Student Spotlight: Sophia
A year ago a young but mature high school student by the name of Sophia Liu came to me with the kernel of a project she was interested in. Since we first began our weekly private lessons, she has grown exponentially. Her passion for a variety of media, from painting and sculpture, to performance, installation, and writing, gives her burgeoning portfolio a breadth that isn't easily attained. That is what I enjoy so much about teaching Sophia; she thinks conceptually about her work and is so dedicated to realizing her vision that she is willing to explore every avenue necessary to achieve its potential. Even among adults, post-modern and contemporary art can be challenging to grasp. I appreciate Sophie's intellectual curiosity and her sensitivity to the issues tackled in these probing art forms. I commend her passionate desire to contribute for the sake of the world and not just for her own college portfolio.
In the age of information it can be overwhelming to navigate the vast resources available. Together, we have been peeling layers of history and psychology to understand how art of different eras communicate ideas. Sophia's project embraces many disciplines and includes elements from representational figuration. Through her hard work, she has developed fundamental skills necessary to reach her audience in an emotional way. Sophia keeps impressive records of our brainstorming process and writes in-depth notes beside her sketches. She is a model student!
It is no surprise to learn that in addition to her interest in art and poetry, Sophia wishes to be a screenwriter. Another great medium for what she hopes to communicate through art. She loves not just beauty, but the controversy and tension art can create, stating, "Art has the capability to push the needle forward and press for change in society, so it would be a pity if it was not used in that way." One of her favorite works is the performance piece by Marina Abramovic’s Rhythm 10, an eye-opening examination of human morality and how far people are willing to go for their art.
A nascent artist, Sophia is also a young woman, a junior at Great Neck South High School, where she particularly appreciates the humanities and the intricacies of human nature, history and the diversity of backgrounds people have. Meanwhile she enjoys listening to Lauv, Lorde, Machine Gun Kelly, and BTS. She also loves to, as she puts it, “fangirl,” over the cast of Orange is the New Black.
Every student I have guided in their college admissions portfolio is significantly different, with their own unique goals they are striving for in the next few years. Sophia is no exception. She is a pleasure to teach and work with. Given all the work we are putting into her supplemental portfolio for her college applications, I have no doubt she will do well as a screenwriter in the future.
Sophia's Progress in Traditional Media:
