Date of Award
Spring 5-10-2023
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Visual Art
Degree Type
Thesis
Abstract
I create immersive installations, performances, and time-based media artworks that delve into stories of belonging, feminism, and language as power. These stories offer a potential for transformation from viewer to participant and a shift in how our world is seen and experienced. Through an exploration of perception and affect, I challenge dominant narratives, prompting a contemplation of contemporary power struggles for control.
In this text, I examine the impact of historical borders and migration on my life while also investigating questions of home, shared values, and rituals that contribute to one’s sense of belonging. I also highlight my commitment to feminist discourse and its intersection with culture and politics to amplify women's voices. My ultimate aim is to raise awareness and appreciation for the diverse range of people around us.
Additionally, I discuss my self-perception of otherness, highlighting the tensions between assimilation and the preservation of my own culture. My artwork Well-spoken, 2023 explores the influence and dominance of English as the global lingua franca while encouraging viewers to reflect on their own self-perception and confront prejudices towards those they perceive as Other.
Language
English
Program Chair
Lisa Bulawsky
Thesis Text Advisor
Cheryl Wassenaar
Thesis Text Advisor
Monika Weiss
Faculty Mentor
Denise Ward-Brown
Committee Member
Patricia Olynyk
Committee Member
Lisa Bulawsky
Recommended Citation
Lee, Sharlene, "other oceans, other skies" (2023). MFA in Visual Art. 13.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/mfa_visual_art/13
Included in
Asian American Studies Commons, Contemporary Art Commons, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Film Production Commons, Fine Arts Commons, Graphic Communications Commons, Graphic Design Commons, Interdisciplinary Arts and Media Commons, Language Interpretation and Translation Commons, Linguistics Commons, Modern Languages Commons, Other Languages, Societies, and Cultures Commons, Performance Studies Commons, South and Southeast Asian Languages and Societies Commons
Artist's Statement
My multi-media practice in installation, performance, and time-based media offers a space for viewers to contemplate different perspectives and lives lived. These stories offer a potential for transformation from viewer to participant and a shift in how our world is seen and experienced. My work is rooted in an exploration of memory, place, and identity, which draws inspiration from my personal experiences as an Asian woman and an ‘outsider.’
In the installation Well-spoken, 2023, I delve into the perception of spoken language and accents. My focus lies on the influence and dominance of English as the global lingua franca and its significance as the primary language in the United States. I subvert power dynamics by placing viewers in a space where the language spoken may be incomprehensible, mirroring the disorientation experienced by immigrants as they navigate a new environment. This deliberate choice challenges viewers to question their own sense of belonging and confront their preconceived notions about those who are different from them.