GRADUATING STRONG


At HKA, we celebrate individual pathways to success. Each student is unique, and their learning experiences and successes reflect their personal goals and efforts. Prenciss Cantiga just completed the IB Diploma Programme in Art and graduated in May. Her artist’s statement reflects both her own journey as a learner and the HKA approach to education.


Dinner Table, 2013 Paper photo, plastic, rice, fabric.


Prenciss Cantiga Artist’s Statement


As a young girl, I lived in many places where I encountered different things and different people. This experience influenced me to create artworks based on my childhood memories by retracing, recollecting and commemorating events and people. Memories are something that leave a mark on each of us. Memories and my life experiences influence me in how I view the world and myself.


Retracing the Past, 2014 Screen print by paper stencil, fabric, embroidery.


As an artist, my interest, and I feel my strength, is in exploring conceptual themes and transforming them into pieces. I want to give the audience space to reflect on what I am trying to convey in my artworks. This strength is also my weakness because the audience may find my artworks incomprehensible. I find labeling artworks important to point the viewer in the right direction.


My Neighborhood, 2014 Acrylic on canvas, sticks.


I was particularly influenced by Tracey Emin, as she deals with memories and her past experiences. I was drawn by the variety of materials and methods she uses. She might have received a lot of criticism especially for her artwork called “My Bed” (1999) but this actually inspired me to create pieces that people may not necessarily find attractive at first glance. I like to challenge my viewer to have their own interpretation. I also like to challenge myself and get outside of my comfort zone by using materials and methods I am not comfortable with. This helps me to develop different skills and discover my inner strengths.


Home, 2013 Wire and bees wax.


As for my research, since I was dealing with memories that occurred in the past or in other places, it was challenging living in Hong Kong and working with family histories because of the limited personal materials available. This forced me to work more conceptually and approach my theme metaphorically.


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