What drew you to this artwork?
Part of why I wanted to do this interview in my last year [at MIT], is because I've done the SLAP program, probably four or five times, and I always had my eye on this piece. It was very special to be able to get it in my last year.
I loved the sunflowers and light. The feeling of this really quiet, peaceful domestic scene has always been something I've strived for in my own life. During the pandemic, taking peace and pride in my home life was a big focus for me. Also, I spend so much time in this room, writing my thesis here, a few months ago I caught COVID and quarantined in here… so having this cheerful, but peaceful piece of art has been special.
How did you decide where to place the artwork? It’s certainly in conversation with these two artworks on the right.
I had these two larger pieces of art and wanted to put them together and there are some tonal similarities between them. Obviously, between the birds and this one, they’re both more natural scenes. I also think some of the colors speak to each other.
These [on the right] are both done by a good friend of mine from MIT who has moved across the country, but was in my lab group my first two years and is a special person to me. So it is a nice thing to have.
Has this piece sparked any conversation with friends and visitors?
Not a ton. I definitely have told some people about the program, but I haven't had a lot of people in this room.
What would you say to other students interested in participating in SLAP?
SLAP was convenient for me because I was in the Media Lab and could pop down to the List Center. I feel like my approach is probably a little different as a grad student. When I was an undergrad, I didn't think as much about curating my space or making it homey, but especially in the pandemic, when I've spent hours and hours here, being really intentional about the way things are set up became important to me.
I'm sure a lot of people say this, but as a student, it's really cool to have a real, nicely framed piece of artwork in your house. I know some of my friends in the Media Lab have gotten edgy, more conversation pieces. I thought that would be cool, but I wanted something just a little simpler.
What drew you to this artwork?
The thing that drew me to this one was that it's not very in your face. I really like the geometric pattern and the color scheme. I like it from a mathematical perspective… I know the artist was pretty big in mathematical and geometric inspired art. At the time, I didn't have any other artwork in my apartment, so it allowed me to think about how I could start that room. For me, it was subtle without being boring.
Has your perception of this piece changed since when you first picked it off the wall during the SLAP exhibition?
I actually began to appreciate it more when I got the email that I have to return it. I sit here and have my morning coffee, and it's always there and I quite like it. I was actually thinking about trying to get a print of it or something similar.
How did you choose where to put this artwork?
I wanted it in a space where I get light in the room. I wanted this to be something that I saw every day. I'm slow when it comes to decorating my space, so it takes me forever to put something up on the wall and actually commit to it.
Has this artwork sparked any conversation with people coming into your living space?
Yeah, some people really enjoyed it. There's a geekier subset of people that are like, wow, it's inspired in this way… I like to point out to people that every side of each polygon is actually the same length and it's just a really simple idea.
For others, it's just another piece in the room. Two friends of mine in particular really enjoy it, but I think they were similarly interested in the kinds of subject matter I am.
What's been your favorite part about having this in your space?
I honestly just like looking at it. Like I said, it takes me a while to put things up in my space that I want to be there. So I have to really want it to be there or connect with it, for it to be there.
What would you say to other students interested in participating in SLAP?
I've already recommended it to a bunch of people, to check it out. When I won the lottery, I think they were all kind of envious that I had the choice.
How did you learn about the Student Lending Art Program? What made you want to participate?
I got an email from the dorm spam and it said that the List Center was giving away different artworks if you got picked from the lottery and I like art so I said why not? I entered with a couple of my friends but I was the only one that actually got it so it was kind of unexpected.
What drew you to this artwork?
There were quite a few still available when I went to pick. There were a couple of others that had a bit more color and, at first, I was looking for something more colorful, but I thought this was a really nice piece of artwork and it’s an older style of chinese painting. I thought it looked like a tree and I really like trees. It felt very nice and calm and I like the brush style so that’s why I picked it.
How’d you decide where to place the artwork in your dorm?
I wanted it to be somewhere I could see it. I had already filled up my walls so that was kind of the only open space, but it’s also on display.
What conversations has this artwork sparked?
I do point it out to people. My friends all agree that it was a good choice and it does fit in with the room. They’ve said it seems like something that I would pick out, so it goes with a lot of things that I like. People ask about it a lot, how I got it, why I borrowed it… so I explain to people that it was through the lottery and that MIT has a Visual Arts Center. When I first got it, I went to the List to get it with a couple of friends that didn’t know about the building. It’s cool for people to find out that MIT has more arts centered initiatives.
How do you feel this artwork has affected your living space?
I feel like I’m a bit attached to it because I’ve had it in my space all year. It’s always nice to look at. My walls have a lot of photos but not a lot of artworks and I’m not an artist so I can’t put anything up. So I am sad to give it back.
Are you interested in participating in SLAP in future years at MIT? Would you recommend SLAP to your friends?
I do want to participate every year, it’s just whether I get picked out of the lottery. I would tell my friends to do it, especially if they like to decorate their walls. I think it’s cool to have a piece of art on display and take care of it.
Did this piece change your appreciation or thoughts around the visual arts in general?
I think going into this program I didn’t think twice about art at MIT or art in general because it’s more of a STEM focused school. After participating in the program, I got signed up for the mailing list for the Arts Center. The emails they send have brought a lot of initiatives to my attention. People at MIT do care about art and different social sciences. In a way, this artwork has brought different issues and events around campus to my attention that I probably wouldn’t have known about otherwise. It’s been a cool butterfly effect.
How did you decide where you wanted to hang this piece?
We decided on it pretty spur of the moment. In the summer, we have more plants on the opposite wall so it was nice to have green to balance out the colors in the plants.
What drew you to this artwork?
I like that it’s geometric. I do a lot of digital fabrication stuff so I was also thinking, ‘oh well I really like this, maybe I could try and recreate it.’
You’ve been living with the artwork for nearly nine months now, did you notice anything new about the piece after spending more time with it?
As I looked at it more, I noticed the depth and the subtle texture.
Has this artwork sparked any conversations, or do people take note of it?
I don’t think anyone has explicitly said anything, but all my roommates thought it was really cool when they first saw it.
Did you have a favorite part about borrowing this piece of artwork?
My favorite part was transporting it, I felt like some kind of secret service person. That was really cool.
Do you think it affected the space it was in at all?
Having art on the walls especially when it is really vibrant definitely did change the space
Do you have any other comments you’d like to make?
It’s such a great program and I’m super grateful I got to participate.
