Michelle Kuen (BA ’05) uses her experience at UBC to pursue a career in visual arts.
Michelle graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2005 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Art and English Literature. Now devoted to her artistic practice full-time, she divides her time between her personal artistic pursuit and the commercial sector.
Current projects include Dreadful in Truth, Kiryu Misao and the Seed Project. Dreadful in Truth began in Michelle’s final year at UBC under Professor Marina Roy’s guidance and mentorship. Not only did it grow to be her featuring piece in the graduation show, but the series evolved to be her first solo exhibition in November 2005.
Inspired by artists such as Gustav Klimt and Henry Darger, Michelle is interested in elaborate artworks’ ability to create ambivalent narratives and to provoke polar reactions. She believes the postmodern theory that each of her viewers is a site to generate further narrative and discussions from her artworks. At times she is mysterious about her works, not disclosing any hint. Other times she is generous, not able to detach from her fantastical world of skulls, hags and absurdities.
Last spring, Michelle had her first photography and drawing shows in Hong Kong, and was interviewed by Photo Magazine as a fine art photographer.
