M E R A K I2 0 1 9 • 2 0 2 1

It comes to me as no surprise that the students of the Visual Arts 2021 graduating cohort have chosen the Greek word Meraki as the title of their final exhibition. This word describes the enthusiasm and love that they have each put into their creative process throughout the last two years. As their teacher and program coordinator, I have had the pleasure of accompanying them along this journey. I have been continually impressed by how they have maintained a meaningful connection to their education during this entire period.

It would be impossible to begin this catalogue without mentioning the pandemic’s effect on this group. Since the middle of their second semester, these students have had to move their studios to their homes, while patiently working with teachers who were adapting methods of art education from hands-on to online. Despite the weight of this global situation on all aspects of our lives, the students never lost their willingness to develop skills and concepts, as evidenced by the strong work in this catalogue and exhibition. Although their experience at Dawson College did not go as expected, it is easy to see how each student met this challenge with intelligence, focus and meraki!

From research, to concept, to execution and all the way to exhibition, the Visual Arts program provides a critical and creative process of artistic discovery. The commitment and growth of this cohort will undoubtedly echo through each of their future endeavours.

Rachel EchenbergChair of the Fine Arts DepartmentVisual Arts Program CoordinatorDawson College

F O R E W O R D

4242 Michael PontrelliMichael Pontrelli

4444 Nutthida Girard-Nutthida Girard- GariépyGariépy

4646 Olivia Joffre Olivia Joffre

4848 Phan Khanh An TranPhan Khanh An Tran

5050 Renata DuretRenata Duret

5252 Rosa Di StasioRosa Di Stasio

5454 Sabrina PerrottiSabrina Perrotti

5656 Salma ShaabanSalma Shaaban

5858 Sarah SteinSarah Stein

6060 Shaghayegh Shaghayegh NaderolasliNaderolasli

6262 Sofia MontecinoSofia Montecino

6464 Sophie BerteauSophie Berteau

6666 Talia PotschkaTalia Potschka

6868 Tania SkoulakisTania Skoulakis

7070 Zi Ang ChenZi Ang Chen

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

66 Angelica-Anne SerranoAngelica-Anne Serrano

88 Ariane LabbéAriane Labbé

1010 Ava GongAva Gong

1212 Brandon RossBrandon Ross

1414 Caitlyn DixCaitlyn Dix

1616 Camille MotaCamille Mota

1818 Eva LavigneEva Lavigne

2020 Haley ChungHaley Chung

2222 Jasmine Marquez-FryJasmine Marquez-Fry

2424 Jenna BelangerJenna Belanger

2626 Jennifer OrrJennifer Orr

2828 Jolie NguyenJolie Nguyen

3030 Junainah Walid NuhaJunainah Walid Nuha

3232 Kadyn RomeoKadyn Romeo

3434 Laura MaréchalLaura Maréchal

3636 Linda DaoLinda Dao

3838 Marina DiolaitiMarina Diolaiti

4040 Maya WouMaya Wou

6

As a child, self-expression was unfamiliar to me as art was labeled a

pastime

rather than a true passion to be pursued. Throughout the years, I gradually

learned that art was my answer to the void that I couldn!t identify

within myself. My simple graphite drawings expanded to include many more

colourful mediums. Acrylic paint, etching prints, and coloured pencils,

alongside an incorporation of light pastel and jewel tones, are now the

outlets for my self-discovery and an extension of my inner thoughts and

beliefs. In this way, my art aims to illustrate a part of my identity

as a person, and goes beyond making art for the sake of aestheticism.

My work is mainly inspired by music as I let the notes and feelings

that I relate to guide my brush or my pencil. To let each stroke

reveal a part of me that I never knew was there is the most

rewarding part since my debut as an artist. This will always be

the goal that I will continuously pursue and share in my work

A N G E L I C A - A N N ES E R R A N O

7

Slumber, 2019Acrylic on canvas

60.9 x 91.4 cm

Love is Blind, 2019Acrylic on canvas121.9 x 182.8 cm

8

I was in a driving class when it first occurred to me that I might be an

artist. It was one of those sessions where two students evaluate each

other on their abilities and my partner was an old acquaintance I had

trouble placing. We did some small talk to ease up the atmosphere, and

he eventually had to ask: “So, what do you study?” In other interactions,

responding to that one question usually generated more confusion than

clarification. So I answered that I studied Visual Arts. Just that, with a

period and a nonchalant look out the window. And he asked me if I was an

artist. This caught me off guard, so to say, because to this, one usually

just looks surprised and exclaims, “Oh, so like drawing and stuff?”; but

no, he made me question and left me admitting that I actually didn’t

know whether or not I was an artist. He looked at his fingers and looked

back at me and just said that if I made art, then surely I was an artist.

Over a year later, I could say that it was at that point I started making

art the way I do. I ask my own questions now and seek answers in my art,

always pushing it further and further. And when it’s done, I take a step

back to look at it and I think that Loïc might be right; I am an artist.

A R I A N E L A B B É

9

La Terre appelle la Lune, 2019 Digital collage20 x 25 cm

When does it end?, 2021Fabric and Hrydrostone25.4 x 17.8 x 269 cm

10

My relationship with art is something I don’t have with anything else

in my life. There have been so many things that I have loved that have

come and gone, but that hasn’t been the case with art, and my love for

creating has only grown as I’ve gotten older. I give up easily, I lose

interest easily, I get bored easily, and I lose motivation easily. But,

no matter what, I always come back to art. It’s almost like having a

friend, someone who can inspire all kinds of feelings in you, but who

can also piss you off. Yeah, it’s frustrating that I can’t figure out

how anatomy works, but it makes me happy when I can just draw some

funny eggs that make my friends laugh. I love digital art, and drawing

cute things like pandas, flowers, and bright colours. I think a lot of

people overcomplicate what art can be and try to box it into something

specific, but we’ve progressed and changed the meaning of what being

an artist means throughout time, so I believe art can be anything you

want it to be. For me, it’s a source of happiness for myself and people

around me. I can always count on doing art to cope or to cheer me up.

A V AG O N G

11

Panda Embrace Modernity, 2020Watercolour on paper56 x 75 cm

Panda Café, 2021

Acrylic on Canvas45.72 x 60.96 cm

12

A lot of my works have nothing to do with one another, save for a series

of several artworks featuring a certain character of mine. Her name is

Kihel and she is a demonic being with blood-red hair that I have placed

in my artworks to add a personal touch, an easily recognizable figure that

has only been mistaken for a popular Vtuber once. Though the majority

of work I show is painting, I find more pleasure in drawing. My drawings

are my most cherished works, and Kihel’s first appearance was in a sketch

that I drew for a Dungeons & Dragons game back in 2018. Aside from Kihel

and her years of design variations, I have many other characters that I

use in my personal art. I use these characters to convey emotions and

inner thoughts that I do not know how to put into words; to list them

here would take the rest of my page. Abstraction as a style is something

I try to avoid, because I like being upfront with my viewers, and making

any possible meaning easy to understand. Though, telling people there

is “meaning” to representational art often leads to them reading too

deeply into the supposed intention. That is something I learned to live

with. The fictional character Zefram Cochrane from Star Trek once said,

“Don’t try to be a great man. Just be a man, and let history make its own

judgments.” I admire this character, and agree with what he has to say.

B R A N D O NR O S S

13

Kihel 1, 2020Silkscreen on Lennox55 x 38 cm

Kihel’s Lazy Sun-dae, 2021

Acrylic on canvas45 x 60 cm

14

When I am painting and drawing I can enter a world much like the

ones that inspire my work; it is like a meditative space where all

I am expected to do is to concentrate on my art, which gives me

a sense of being enough. I enjoy exploring the effects of colours,

reflections and shadows. They are what captivate me and give rise to my

emotions. My work is often inspired by fantastical or more dream-like

situations that are still partly grounded in reality. The subject of my

artwork ranges from the beauty of nature’s flora and fauna, to humans

in nature - and sometimes incorporates a bit of silliness. My style

leans towards semi-realism since much of my process is spent thinking

about and planning the subject of a project, rather than on its physical

making. When it comes to colours, I like to be more spontaneous.

C A I T L Y ND I X

15

Untitled, 2020, willow charcoal, on Stonehenge paper 112 x 76 cm

Untitled, 2020, acrylic on canvas

76 x 51 cm

16

My work is a reflection of my ever-evolving self and my diverse interests

in feminist theory, social justice, environmentalism, design, and the

body. I have created conceptual and pragmatic compositions, and others

just for fun, through techniques I have mastered or mistakes that I have

made on dozens of blank canvases and pieces of paper. I have engraved

images onto copper, manipulated metal, and transformed a few planks

of wood into pieces that didn’t exist aside from the faint pictures

in my imagination. With all of these experiences and mediums of self-

expression, I am currently drawn to working large scale, particularly

through installation work and sculpture. The ability to manipulate

objects in relation to my body and to therefore make myself aware of my

presence feels euphoric and liberating, as if my motions and emotions

are being translated into each piece. In terms of my audience, there is

something powerful about having the ability to impact a viewer with the

physicality of materials, which forces them to be aware of the space

they take up and inhabit. My process involves a lot of procrastination,

because I am at the mercy of my high standards, and an eventual

acceptance of the freedom I have in creating whatever I want without

limiting myself to styles that may or may not represent my present self.

C A M I L L EM O T A

17

Cow in metal, 2020Metal48 x 40,5 x 34,5 cm

Untitled, 2021Canvas and Plastic

36.83 x 41.15 cm

18

I am a young artist who enjoys making abstract art through painting,

drawing, printmaking and photography. While I never believed that

school was my strength, art is what got me through and I found my stride

when I discovered my love of art. I would always draw little patterns in

class and it helped me concentrate; that is when art really started to

speak to me. I have dozens of sketch books filled with abstract shapes

and patterns, and this is a form of meditation for me, still to this

day. All my artworks are based on relaxation: I just pick up a brush,

pen, piece of wood or any other material and go for it. Whatever feels

right, I do it. I am never the one to over think my artworks, because

there's no pleasure in being stressed while doing art. In this way, I

make what comes to my mind first, and let the process develop on its own.

E V AL A V I G N E

19

Fluid, 2020Acrylic, Pouring Medium on Canvas

40 x 50 cm

Bad Habits, 2020Charcoal, China Ink on Mayfair60 x 60 cm

20

After a year long break, I came back to my art making with more passion.

I take more time and I put more effort into thinking about my ideas and

the process of creating. My art is inspired by my surroundings, mostly

in the form of pictures I have taken of people, objects, landscapes

and nature. Art can be frustrating at times, but it often brings out

a positive, peaceful and creative side of me. I enjoy painting nature

and lands that have an abstract quality to them. I also enjoy drawing

the human body and daily mundane objects. I want people to see the

serenity and happiness in my art, but also to question what they see

and feel. My ideas are also influenced by my exploration of techniques

and mediums. It makes it more educational and inspirational for me,

and the finished results can be unexpected and quite interesting.

H A L E YC H U N G

21

Fondue With R., 2021

Acrylic on canvas45.7 x 61 cm

Flourish Bones, 2021Pencil and oil pastels on vellum45.7 x 61 cm

22

Much like my peers, my identity has always revolved around art.

From obnoxious doodles on math worksheets to large paintings and

drawings, art has been present in every facet of my life. However,

when art became increasingly important for me, my reasons for

creating art shifted. My main interest then evolved into exploring

my relationship with myself, as well as my insecurities. Thus, the

themes explored in my art often revolve around mental health, self-

harm, body image, dysmorphia, doubt, fear, and messiness. The art I

create comes from personal experiences with those matters, and so

most of it is very personal, although it might not be too obvious at

first glance. I also try to explore this subject matter in ways that

are incongruous and/or new. I enjoy playing with colours, textures,

layers, and rough lines. When making art, I prioritize impulsiveness,

gestural movement, and spontaneity to create dynamic and interesting

shapes. My preferred mediums are painting, printmaking and drawing.

J A S M I N E M A R Q U E Z - F R Y

23

Somehow, I Exist, 2020 Acrylic on canvas

76.2 x 91.44 cm

Alimony butterflies, 2020Acrylic and Oil on canvas board30.48 x 40.64 cm

24

Pursuing my studies at Dawson College in the Visual Arts program has

taught me to explore many mediums and techniques such as painting,

drawing, print making, sculpture, photography and film making. Art is

a form of relief for me; as someone with ADHD, producing art allows

me to be clear-minded and to solely concentrate on what I love best.

As a child my grandmother told me to pursue my talents when I would

discuss my dream job, and that was the best advice I could have

received. I have developed a higher education in art history, and

was given the opportunity to discover new artists - some of whom are

the talented teachers who have helped me excel. Throughout these two

years, I have learned a lot about myself and my artistic talents,

and I have been taught to push myself and to compose well-rendered

artworks by paying attention to every step that leads to my final work.

Before the guidance I received at Dawson College, I would stick to

what I knew and I didn’t feel the need to work with other mediums.

I have now realized the importance of the several available mediums

and techniques that have been introduced to me. My first sketches as a

child were often of my classmates while using HB pencils and Hilroy

exercise books. I would sketch the movement and stability of their

bodies rather than pay attention to my teachers. I personally believe

that artistically, I work best with the human body and anatomy. I have

always been highly interested and inspired by Renaissance paintings

of the female body, which is why I love to work with the female body

when I am painting, as well as skeletal anatomy when I am drawing.

J E N N AB E L A N G E R

25

Plant Bone Onion, 2020Acrylic on Canvas 50.8 x 60.4 cm

Shrimp Martini, 2021Acrylic on Canvas

50.8 x 60.96 cm

26

I still question myself to this day as to why I create what I create,

and honestly it usually comes from my mind, with few inspirations from

other artists. I am inspired by people I am in relationships with or

various emotions that just need to be released, sometimes in multiple

mediums and sometimes in just one. Depending on my state of mind or my

environment, I grab what is most appealing to me in the moment, though

it might change in the future. Working from realism to abstraction

I free-form sculptures, and I like working with textiles and raw

materials like clay, wood, fabrics, and metal. In my work, I enjoy

using techniques such as clay modeling, casting, wood carving, plasma

cutting, MIG welding, TIG welding, disassembling, and assembling. I

dreaded sketching and developing ideas/projects before I attended the

Visual Arts program at Dawson. I was so fixated on the final product.

It made me so frustrated that I used to rip out the pages in my

sketchbooks. I would not acknowledge the progression I made during

the whole process. Now I have come to a love/hate relationship with

the progression of my art and the patience it takes to create it. I

make sculptures/installations, paintings, drawings, and prints based

on human existence, the natural environment, the questioning of one’s

identity/identities, alternate universes that decay the purpose of time

as well as a great deal of emotions that are recent or from past traumas.

J E N N I F E R O R R

27

The Griffin’s Crown, 2019Steel, Metallic spray paint

30 x 34 cm

Lomo Verde, 2021Etching on paper25 x 28 cm

28

I was born in Hanoi, Vietnam and moved to Canada in 2017. I am

currently an art student in Montreal. As a person born and raised

in a country rich in tradition like Vietnam, the standard approach

to art is usually through culture, history or habitat. In some ways,

these approaches were far from Western artistic ideals. However,

observing different classic art and design styles from both cultures

has enormously contributed to my artistic view and creative tendency.

My preferences for painting and drawing have always leaned towards

buildings and city views. I have been interested in making art from

an early age, and my choice to be a Visual Arts student at Cégep

was to figure out what career path I truly wanted to pursue. After

challenging myself with various artmaking forms, I have discovered

my interest in designing sculptures from different materials like

wood, clay and metal. Most importantly, I want to further develop

my skills in non-traditional artmaking. I am looking to improve

my professional skills and creativity at the university level.

J O L I EN G U Y E N

29

Mechanical room, 2020Conté Compressed Charcoal

on Mayfair paper 65 x 83 cm

The Neighborhood, 2020Watercolour, Pencil colour, Conté Compressed Charcoal, Micro pen.37 x 53 cm

30

My work explores vulnerability and female empowerment. As the

fictional character Leslie Knope once said, “I am big enough to admit

that I am often inspired by myself.” I use art in the form of

painting and drawing to explore and express various emotions and

traumatic, life-altering experiences that I have gone through, and

that I continue to experience and process. Numerous artistic and

personal influences have been an important part of my artistic process,

from contemporary artist Kehinde Wiley to my own therapist. For a

long time, I painted peaceful and motionless landscapes as a way

to escape from my own reality and to find a bit of solace in my

personal fabricated scenery. Now, as an evolving artist, I find joy

and curiosity in creating works of art that emerge from my journey

to self-heal, and in continuing to discover my identity. I used to

think that my goal as an artist was to make sure that I had made a

mark for myself on this tiny planet but as I learn more about myself,

I realize that my goal as an artist is to discover, try new things,

and grow as much as I can in the realm of art. In other words that

pertain more to the audience of 2021: I am literally just vibing.

J U N A I N A HW A L I D N U H A

31

Honeycomb, 2018Acrylic on canvas30.5 x 35.5 cm

Garden of weeds, 2019

Lino print 25.5 x 33 cm

32

I started drawing as a way to cope with my depression and anxiety

in the summer of grade six. I started by making small doodles in

the corner of my English essays, or in the back of tests that I had

completed. Over time I started creating intricate mandala pen drawings

on larger pieces of paper. Drawing patterns was the only thing I was

ever interested in, until I was forced to step out of my comfort zone

and into the broad world of college. In the Visual Arts program I was

given so much knowledge, in so little time. I started painting, and

making digital art, which I had never done previously. Looking back

on all I have done over the course of my short artistic journey, I

realize that there is so much more out there to be inspired by and

explore. My eyes have changed to be able to notice the beauty in

everything around me (even in what is “ugly”). I have grown to enjoy

and appreciate everything that is found in art, including shape, form,

contrast, colour, and composition. There is not one type of way I like

to create my art, nor is there one type of medium I religiously use.

I enjoy depicting anything I find peculiar, beautiful, or disgusting.

At the moment I enjoy doing digital art, as well as ink/pen drawings.

I have not drawn an intricate mandala in more than two years. Maybe

once I have more free time, I’ll return to my first love of patterns.

K A D Y NR O M E O

33

Red Bridge, 2019Steel, Spray Paint30.48 x 30.48 x 9.53 cm

Spiky Fortress, 2019Bass Wood, Acrylic Paint40.64 x 45.72 x 27.94 cm

34

Collage has always been my first love because of the extraordinary

pairings that can be made with completely contradicting elements.

However, for the past two years I have worked with a variety

of different mediums such as painting, drawing, sculpture,

printmaking and photography in order to broaden my skill set.

A component that seems to always stand out no matter the medium

I work with is texture. I have always used my creative vision in

order to guide me through my work, but I have realized that the

natural process of the material being incorporated can also be

used as a guide to push my work further. My style is very much

inspired by the 1960s and 1970s, with a touch of French aesthetics.

Instead of letting my emotions control me, I let them inspire me,

and I think that is something that is reflected through my work.

L A U R AM A R É C H A L

35

Latching On, 2021Paper and

Digital collage15.24 x 10.16 cm

Record Man, 2021Acrylic on Canvas50.8 x 66.04 cm

36

I enjoy making drawings, paintings, sculptures, and prints – and

these are only some of the mediums I have learned so far. My style

is very fluid and I like to experiment with new techniques or styles

in order to convey the right emotion. Growing up in a household

where art was taboo, my art was a way to illustrate my daydreams

or to simply create pretty images to distract myself. As I got to

broaden my view on art and develop my skill set in the past year,

I am now creating art to make the viewer feel something, whatever

the emotion may be. Since I always create with a heavy heart, my art

has now become a way for me to express my emotions and feelings.

I am inspired by the events going on in my life, but I am most

impacted by the music I listen to during the harder times. Although I

do not understand the lyrics in the music I listen to, the musicians

are still able to convey strong emotions through their voices and

intonation. In a similar way, the medium, style or subject matter

of my art does not matter and should not be over-analyzed; I am

only concerned about the emotions that my works convey and inspire.

L I N D AD A O

37

Société Brisée : L’Inapprochable, 2020Oil pastel, dry pastel, watercolour, and ink on Stonehenge paper76 x 53 cm

Dice, 2020Steel

22 x 21 x 23 cm

38

SCULPTURES ARE PUBLIC;

YOU CAN’T CONTROL THEM ONCE THEY ARE MADE.

M A R I N AD I O L A I T I

39

LV, 2019Metal

37 x 15 x 17 cm

Mantra, 2020Metal 42 x 35 x 30 cm

40

My work explores cultural ideas related to the theme of time, which

is presented as a way to stimulate skeptical philosophical ideas.

Ideologies that I have adopted from Aristotle and Socrates have greatly

influenced my art throughout college, as I enjoy challenging perspectives

and outlooks on life. In my work, these notions are captured through

cinematic stills that are illustrated through different mediums such

as ink, graphite and paint. My love for cinema and art history

translates through my artwork as I attempt to link art with intellect.

Growing up, I was interested in etching and Gustave Doré's work, which

influenced me to incorporate hatching techniques in my drawings to

create an etching aesthetic. I am drawn to the repetition, direction,

and movement of lines to bring liveliness and detail to an artwork. I

have been painting and drawing since childhood and have developed an

expressive style; however, studying at Dawson has allowed me to refine

my techniques and combine expression with technical skill, which

has encouraged me to develop the conceptual ideas in my artworks.

M A Y AW O U

41

Biorhythm, 2020Micro-pen on Mayfair paper

63.5 cm x 88.9 cm

The Concubine, 2020Oil and acrylic paint on canvas76.2 x 50.8 cm

42

Intuitive expression has always been my favourite way of communicating

visually. I enjoy the spontaneity of allowing the tools I use - whether

it is my favourite felt tipped pens or a creamy acrylic used with large

brushes and palette knives - to create powerful and strategically placed

marks that are not meant to be precise and controlled, but instead

resemble something as organic as thought itself. A part of me focuses on

details and tries to find the best shorthand technique to express what I

feel best conveys the emotion I strive to communicate through colours and

gestures. I like to use my tools in a haphazard and reckless way, using

speed to express this intention. I prefer allowing my subconscious to

express itself through violent and chaotic gestures, and once the piece

feels completed, to allow my conscious self to find an excuse or a reason

as to why it looks that way. However, I have learned how to express these

subconscious thoughts by first observing and studying the physical world

around me through a logical perspective, and understanding how shapes fit

into space. I find enjoyment in a quick and visceral visual language. A

vibrant and high contrast colour palette, such as warm and bright oranges

contrasted by extremely cool greens and blues or deep violets, attracts

my eye. I sometimes wish I had more control over my brush strokes or

maybe slowed my pace, but I get impatient and eager to create. What

drives my creative process is not if the artwork will look exactly how

I imagined it millimetre by millimetre, but rather I am interested to

see if it captures the psychology of myself or my subject. My process

does not allow for calculated marks and precision like life itself. I do

not wish to control the outcome but rather guide it to its potential.

M I C H A E LP O N T R E L L I

43

Steel Hare, 202012 gage steel10 x 13 x 4 cm

Steel Lynx, 202012 gage steel.32 x 18 x 13 cm

Basement Dwelling Self-Portrait, 2020Acrylic paint on canvas40.5 x 51 cm

44

Art has always been a beautiful way to disconnect from my daily

life and express my emotions. When I was younger, my parents

would leave me at my grandparents' houses while they ran errands.

My grandfathers and I would sit at the kitchen counter: one would

teach me how to draw ice cream cones and the other would make

collages and crafts with me. I believe this is where it all started.

I have always admired the manga and cartoon styles, which is

where I take my inspiration from. I enjoy simple and delicate

things, including detailing, fine features and pastel colors. I

have a penchant for artworks that are strange and have a lot of

texture, and I try to integrate these elements into my work. I am

a rather reserved and calm person and like to communicate through

my artworks. Some of my favorite mediums are painting and clay.

In the future, I envision sharing this beautiful mode of word-less

expression.

N U T T H I D AG I R A R D - G A R I É P Y

45

Mæng kra phrun, 2021Metal

45.72 x 73.66 x 55.88 cm

Serene, 2021Acrylic paint and Dap Drydex on canvas40 x 51 cm

46

Art has been a part of my life for longer than I can remember. It

has taken me through so many forms of expression that have allowed

me to be who I am today. I want to fill the world with all kinds of

beauty, even if that beauty is sometimes seen as worn out or slightly

discomforting. Painting is my favourite medium, but now that I have

had the chance to try out new things, I’ve grown to love sculpture

and the feeling of changing the shape of clay in my hands to what

my mind tells it to be. There are so many little emotions in me,

good or bad and when I create art, I get to explore these little

moments in time and remember them as they are. I’m very inspired by

where I live in Vaudreuil and tend to fall back to natural pastel

colours in my work. I hope to create paintings that will connect

to people who endure and treasure the mundane in everyday life.

O L I V I AJ O F F R E

47

Mr. Pancake, 2021Oil on canvas,90 x 120 cm

Interlude, 2020Ink and pen on Mayfair,

88 x 58 cm

48

I have always been interested in abstract art, and unconsciously,

I have adapted the concept into many of my artworks including my

paintings, drawings, new media works, and prints. I like to explore

different types of mark making in different mediums to see variations

of effects, and textures. I also leave room to allow viewers to have

their own perceptions about my art. I enjoy seeing artworks that look a

little confusing and do not portray any literal meanings; they spark

my imagination and enable me to construct my own work in many ways.

I am also inspired by color because I think it brings personality to

an art piece - especially when colors blend and mix with one another.

Yet, without it, the content can be interpreted very differently. My

goal with making art is to find my own unique style. I think it is

important to see the artist’s character and approach come through

in their art, as that is what makes them and their work unique.

P H A N K H A N H A N T R A N

49

Untitled, 2019Adobe Photoshop179.92 x 116.4 cm

Untitled, 2020Acrylic paint on canvas

40.64 x 50.8 cm

50

I am a 19-year-old multimedia artist, currently in my graduating

semester of Visual Arts at Dawson College. From a young age, I

could always be found doodling in notebook margins, already eager to

express on paper the hyper-saturated world I perceived around me.

My ongoing participation in art classes in and around school led

me to explore a vast array of mediums, from printmaking to digital

editing. I have a deep passion for the ‘making of’ process that art

asks of its creator, and that is one of the reasons why I have chosen

to pursue a Bachelor of Studio Arts and Art History at Concordia

University in the fall, acknowledging that the combination of both

of these fields of study will help me produce more self-aware works.

Inspired by the hyper-individualized internet culture that I actively

participate in, and am the first to critique, my work often reflects

and seeks to decipher what goes into, as well as what lies beyond,

the explosive personalities created and reproduced online. Recurring

themes in my work include the creation of the self, as well as

advocacy for better mental health awareness and resources, especially

for queer youth. The current presented work builds upon an initial

digital self-portrait created during the peak of the pandemic last

semester, and aims to shift the focus onto how others perceive me.

R E N A T AD U R E T

51

Astronomical Ascension, 2020Digital collage1789 x 2406 x 1789 px

Rose Garden, 2020Acrylic on canvas

40.5 x 51 cm

52

Art has been a big part of my life and has helped me out a lot

throughout the years. I have been through many difficult situations

in my life and at those moments in time, art distracted me from

the world I was living in and offered me an escape from reality. I

like to draw realistic art, but I like my art to have an aura of

mystery or to incorporate dark subject matter. I also like to explore

serious issues in my work, including self-esteem and the phenomenon

of women doubting their bodies in relationship to “social standards”.

My biggest issue when it comes to art is that I doubt myself and

tend to give in to those negative thoughts, but I’ve learned that I

have to be the best version of myself instead of comparing myself

to others. This program has helped me improve so much from the very

beginning. Since I was self-taught coming in to the program, I had a

lot to learn and I’m proud of all the progress I have made so far.

I anticipate watching myself grow even more in the years to come.

R O S AD I S T A S I O

53

The swing appropriation project, 2020 Drawing with Prismacolor pencils on

Stonehenge paper55 x 75 cm

Tourment, 2020Acrylic paint60 x 90 cm

54

My work mostly includes painting, drawing, sculpture, and printmaking.

It is hard to pinpoint specific influences because I find myself being

influenced by everything around me; everyday objects, people, music,

myths, and other artworks. Over time, I gather small elements from

these many different sources of inspiration, and manifest them into

a larger creation. The original influences aren’t always visible in

my final works, but they are a vital part of the creative process.

I create art because it is fun. It might not sound awfully profound,

but I often feel like the collective of society forgets how important

fun and creative expression can be. It is simple, but powerful enough

to inspire creation everywhere it exists. Creating and viewing art not

only helps us understand the world better, but also allows for us to

understand ourselves better. We are free to explore our imaginations

and discover new meaning. Art starts in childhood, with a fist wrapped

around a marker, defying the borders of colouring books. In my art, I

try to capture that sense of fun and whimsy we sometimes leave behind

in our childhoods. Through colourful palettes, small details, organic

shapes and settings, fluid movement and fairytale-like symbols, I

explore themes of youthful curiosity and uninhibited imagination.

S A B R I N AP E R R O T T I

55

Accretion, 2020 Coloured pencil and ink on paper71 x 101.6 cm

Crane, 2020 12 gage steel

Approx. 63.5 x 60.96 x 16.5 cm

56

As an art student, I have a hard time finding inspiration, so I

usually end up repeating the same themes in my different artworks.

I draw inspiration from the music I listen to and the books I read.

My medium of choice is sculpture, more specifically clay. I think

making sculptures fits with my approach to creating art. Usually,

paintings or drawings contain a lot of details done with pencil

or small brushes. I don’t like spending time on small details too

much. In sculpture, whether I’m working with wood, metal, or clay,

I don’t necessarily have to focus on every single detail. I prefer

working with material that I can transform with my hands, rather

than creating something 2D that I can’t touch. With sculptures, you

can also get a perspective from more angles than one. This program

has definitely taught me how to push my ideas further to create

something big, even when I’m starting with a small idea or sketch.

S A L M AS H A A B A N

57

Van Gogh, 2020Watercolor on canvas23 x 30.5 cm

Reflection,2020Ink on Canson paper

25.5 x 28 cm

58

The way I would describe my work is curvy, colourful, precise, and

surrealistic. I have always admired surrealist artists such as Dalí. I

believe that adding dream-like elements to my work tricks the mind into

thinking that they are real, since we see those styles when we sleep. My

work also has a certain precision to it. I have always been a perfectionist

and I find this represented in my art. In many of my paintings, I often go

for clean lines and opacity. I have recently experimented with realism

and exploring the human body, which has pushed me out of my comfort zone.

When it comes to sculpture, I never have finalized and measured

sketches. I adjust with every step. I work long hours until I’m content

with the results. I strive for new challenges because it helps me

grow and learn as an artist. I enjoy brainstorming with people and

receiving feedback since it stimulates my imagination. I wish to one

day own my own studio and fill up my home with my favourite pieces.

S A R A HS T E I N

59

Entanglement, 2019Bass wood43 x 23 x 20 cm

Inside-out, 2020Conté and charcoal on newsprint with

sharpie on plastic film45.7 x 61 cm

60

Every memory, event, and decision in our lives changes us; changes

our sophisticated and undiscovered personas. What best describes us?

Our selves, which were / will be created, shaped and re-shaped,

destroyed, and neglected by cultural and environmental influences. We

allow these influences to have a strong presence rooted deeply inside

our unconsciousness. I consider human consciousness to be the keeper

of different selves; the selves that show different aspects of an

individual, the selves that could be contradictory to each other.

As an artist, I am interested in showing the effects that words have

on our childhoods and our everyday lives through my visual language.

I primarily work with drawing and painting, but I recently started

experimenting with installation and mixed media, which are my new

approaches to analyzing and visualizing my selves in greater depth.

S H A G H A Y E G H N A D E R O L A S L I

61

Death Is Finished, 2020Etching print on Arches paper25 x 28 cm

Still Life No.8, 2021Acrylic on canvas

40 x 50 cm

62

Moving to Canada to study opened the door to an entirely different life

that I intend to explore through my art. I use my work to understand the

world around me, and as a kind of catharsis to express contradicting

feelings of freedom and homesickness. In my work, I like to explore

themes like identity, home-place, belonging, and memory. I work

primarily with drawing and painting, but am always eager to experiment

with different media. The bright and unusual landscapes of my mind

often influence my practice, which leads me to incorporate organic and

fantastical elements and to use colour as a central part of my work.

I am inspired by my family heritage and the colourful ambience of my

Colombian roots. I aim to create a visual language that represents

the best parts of me and my culture, while allowing me to understand

the immigration process and what constitutes a home or an identity.

My work is often very intimate and personal, yet it strives to be

universal by depicting our human need to have a sense of belonging.

S O F I AM O N T E C I N O

63

Phantasmagoria, 2020 Watercolor, white gel pen, and Colored pencil on paper 60 x 46 cm

El pan de cada dia, 2020 Dry pastel on paper

76 x 69 cm

64

Everything I enjoy drawing today can be traced back to the interests

of my youth.

As a young child, I adored colors. I still have this rainbow-colored

quilt which was, as a child, one of my most beloved belongings. I

now express my love of colors through colorful abstract paintings.

I love observing nature. In my early teen years, I was an avid

birder. Every bird I have drawn is identifiable to its species. This

interest for realistic and accurate rendering proved useful when I

started to draw portraits.

Expressing myself through art has always been an enjoyable,

calming activity. Through this program, I explored new

mediums, learned to draw from real life and learned to critique

art. In my art today, it is apparent that I love colors and

observing the world. This has been visible throughout my life.

S O P H I E B E R T E A U

65

Towers, 2019Wood and acrylic paint

59 x 32 x 11 cm

“Because you are cry-ing, I want to cry in your place”, 2020Etching ink on paper28 × 25 cm

66

When I first started making art, I never thought I would be interested

in making a career out of it. However, when I started learning about

new styles and techniques, art was the only thing on my mind. Even

when I was in high school, art was the only thing I was interested in

because it was something that I could use to express myself. Another

big influence for me were the many people who are interested in the

same things as me, and who have helped me improve on my art. I love

to do both drawing and painting the most, and I also am interested in

the details that emerge when it comes to my projects. My favourite

materials to work with are micron pens, and acrylic and oil paint.

All three materials help me take control of the smallest details

that I want to make. The reason why I make art is because it is a

way for me to show everyone that art is my safe space and something

that I will be doing for many years. I feel that it is important

to be an artist in order to be able to express myself in my own

way. And even if art is not your passion, as long as you are doing

something that you love, then you can express what you like to do.

T A L I AP O T S C H K A

67

The Last Man Standing, 2021Micron and pencil crayon on

vellum paper60 x 45 cm

Uncle Matthew’s Garden, 2021Print on Carson paper26.6 x 28 cm

68

Art is my gateway into anything and everything. Art is personal

but can bring people together. It brings me joy and in return,

I hope it brings joy to others. I like drawing, painting and

photography. I draw my inspiration from other artists, my

classmates, my thoughts, my emotions, as well as things I admire.

When beginning a project, I develop my ideas and composition, and

gather information for my final piece. I spend multiple days on

my artwork; however, I take time away from it in order to return

to it with a clear mind. I also enjoy sharing my work, as this

is a key element in creating art. Hearing what others have to

say is a big source of inspiration, and influences my final pieces.

I give my artworks life and meaning, which often includes having

a purpose or a theme I want to explore personally. My style and

artistic approach is representational and the aesthetic I use is in

line with my personality. Materials like pencil, charcoal, and paint

are reflective of the concepts I work with because they support the

delicacy of my work and allow me to explore a wide range and value.

I draw the audience into the emotional realm of my work, and want

people to feel emotions when looking at it. When they are observing

my work, I want them to admire something that they can connect with.

T A N I AS K O U L A K I S

69

Imprint, 2020Digital Photography

18.06 x 27.09 cm

Distorted, 2020Acrylic printing Ink, Vellum paper, Black marker, Silkscreen print paper55.88 x 38.1 cm

70

My name is Zi Ang Chen. I am an amateur artist currently studying

in the Visual Arts program at Dawson. I create artwork at a slow

rate, and I know that I have a lot more to give when it comes to

my work. As you can see, I have high standards for my work, and I

wish to better myself in the near future. Nowadays, I am starting to

realize that I am responsible for my own growth, and that I should

start working hard on improving my art skills and creating artworks

that live up to my high standards. My philosophy when it comes to

making art is simple: when an artwork is in its late stages, it’s

a good idea to stop working on it before you start to hesitate

too much about what to do next. You should also not let random

chance dictate your art too much. Happy accidents do happen, but

they should not be an important factor in your artwork’s completeness

or success. Sometimes you can go with your feelings, but almost all

progression should be intended and calculated. Do not depend on luck.

Music is one of my biggest influences when it comes to art but any

interesting imagery such as social media posts, stories, products,

models and runways from clothing brands, photographs, conceptual art,

sculpture, ceramics, mixed media art, digital artworks, furniture,

architecture, and crypto art on Instagram will get screenshotted

by me. For this reason, I now have over 5,000 screenshots on my

phone, and each of these images has peaked my interest in some way.

Lastly, I will say that one of the characteristics of my current

artwork is that it has a certain “roughness” to it, and this is

a quality I both struggle with and appreciate at the same time.

Z I A N G C H E N

71

Flow, 2020Digital photograph

Muddy, 2020Acrylic on canvas40.6 x 50.8 cm

Claude Arseneault

Gwen Baddeley

David Baumflek

Amanda Beattie

Joe Becker

Maria Chronopoulos

Kate Hutchinson

Don Corman

Emma Doubt

Nina Dubois

Rachel Echenberg

Pohanna Pyne Feinberg

Juan Gomez-Perales

Antonietta Grassi

David Hall

Harlan Johnson

Julianna Joos

Lise-Hélène Larin

Naomi London

Maureen McIntyre

Lynn Millette

Natalie Olanick

Terry Provost

Kristi Ropeleski

Matt Shane

Sarah Watson

A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

On behalf of all the graduating students, we would

like to thank Dawson College and the Fine Arts

faculty for their support and encouragement.

Diane Gauvin, Director General

Carmela Gumelli, Interim Academic Dean

Andréa C. Cole, Dean of Creative and Applied Arts

Rachel Echenberg, Department Chair &

Program Coordinator

Helen Wawrzetz, Fine Arts Admin. Support Agent

Kwok Wai Lau, Fine Arts Technician

John Glendinning, Fine Arts Technician

Vahan Panikian, Computer Technician

Plant and Facilities

Student Affairs

Printing Services

SSAP

Catalogue Design:

Linda Dao

Marina Diolaiti

Jolie Nguyen

Brandon Ross

Catalogue Coordinator:

Julianna Joos

Catalogue Proof-

readers:

Gwen Baddeley

Emma Doubt

Exhibition

Coordinators:

Julianna Joos

Juan Gomez-

Perales

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