Dana Town Kang recently earned her BFA degree at the New York State College of Ceramics (NYSCC) at Alfred University with Magna Cum Laude. Born in South Korea, Dana resides in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her works have been shown in the Burchfield Penney Art Center in Buffalo, NY, and Genesee Center for the Arts and Educations in Rochester, NY. She was nominated as Cité des Arts de Paris fellow, and a participant in 2016 College Collective, and the SUNY Student Best Show exhibition, representing NYSCC at Alfred University in 2016. Dana received a 2016 Cité des Arts de Paris fellowship. She currently lives and works in Alfred, New York.
Artist Statement
As an artist, I intend to create a quasi-fantastical world that unfolds and dissects the human psyche. The ultimate goal is to share experiences and unify the minds of viewers through my dramatically filtered lens. My works generate an understanding of my present physical and psychological experience that originates from a reflection on striking moments from daily life. The subject of my works centers around the concept of what it is to be human—My sculpted figures intensify visceral empathy by simulating human anatomy, whereas my still-life pieces incorporate viewers’ existence to invigorate an empathetic dialogue. The application of supporting visual structure to further expand the fantastic territory is crucial in my practice. Inspired from cinematography, I create a dream-like space which swings between reality and illusion. Photography in my work enables me to manipulate visual information which heightens the hyperreality of the space. In this space, I connect and generate an intimate dialogue between viewers and sculptures by illustrating human beings’ primary emotions, and create empathy.