Roski seniors to showcase art in special exhibition

The Roski School of Art and Design will showcase the works of its senior BFA students in a special opening reception on Nov. 15. Art from 14 different senior artists will be displayed as a celebration of their artistic innovation and creativity over the past four years. The exhibition theme, “My Biggest Struggle Is Choosing One Thing,” defines the experiences of each artist who will graduate this year.

Kyle David Moreno, a senior majoring in fine arts, is among the artists who will have his works shown. An artist, designer and photographer, Moreno has been recognized by the National YoungArts Foundation and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for his art. Hia work has  also been featured in the Huffington Post and the U.S. Capitol Building. Moreno has also participated in a collective exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art with artist Urs Fischer.

Moreno, whose photography will be featured, believes his time at Roski has changed the way he approaches his art practice.

“While my technical skills have steadily improved, they’ve been supported by the research, thought and conceptuality that comes into play for each piece I produce,” he said. “Classes revolving around theory and writing have been able to not only substantiate my work, but also allow me to see the connections between different pieces within my body of work and between myself and other practicing artists.”

Another artist featured in the show is senior Michael Chang, who describes himself as an “unsophisticated artist.” Inspired by his Taiwanese heritage as well as Japanese pop culture and history, Chang tells stories that would otherwise remain untold. He focuses on the social justice aspect of art — allowing people to feel empowered and heard.

Chang’s exhibit in the show is titled Three Stages of Alienation.

“I’ve been reflecting a lot about my experiences this particular semester and wanted to make a piece that translated those thoughts visually,” Chang said. “The piece is visualizing three different moods I have had in dealing with alienation.”

Chang co-founded USC’s Jukebox Art Collective, which shaped his interest in cultural intersections.

“Coming to USC, I was really just a body with barely any consciousness and awareness just floating along. I developed my interests in those subjects throughout different experiences I had in college, especially with the art collective Jukebox that my friend Aaron and I started in our sophomore year.” he said. “I can say that a lot of the subjects I’m interested in grew out of the various conversations we’ve had over the past three to four years.”

The BFA Senior Show acts as both a reflection of past experiences as well as an opportunity to solidify future aspirations and plans.

“I want to keep collaborating with my friends in holding shows, making work and doing what we want, making a stamp on the city in our way.” Chang said. “Since my work has a kind of narrative structure, my friends and I are building off each other and this fluid world we’re constructing together. We’re Neo Natives.”

The opening reception of the BFA Senior Show will be held on Nov. 15 at the Lindhurst Fine Arts Gallery from 5 to 7 p.m. The exhibition will run from Nov. 7 to Nov. 29.