Spotlight on Artist Ken Xiaofu Wu

Welcome to The Elective’s digital art museum, dedicated to the incredible work of AP Arts students. Each week we highlight a work or series created in one of the AP Arts concentrations—AP 2-D Art and Design, 3-D Art and Design, and AP Drawing (the AP Program also offers Art History and Music Theory)—as well as a statement from the artist (and, occasionally, their teacher).

From the first cave paintings to contemporary breakthroughs in virtually reality, art, in all its forms, has been a crucial way for people to process, make sense of, comment on, and grapple with the world around them. After more than a year of life in a pandemic, AP Art students have risen to the challenge of processing and making sense of the challenges—and opportunities—that have come from this perilous time. The work they submitted in their final portfolios is explicitly of the moment. It’s often challenging and provocative, but always insightful, inspiring, and expansive.

This week we feature an illustration made by Ken Xiaofu Wu from Southland Christian School in Rowland Heights, California.

Here’s Xiaofu’s statement on the work:

“My artwork is called ‘The Future Life.’ It is created to exhibit another aspect of my concentration: addiction. For the process, I draw the general composition in pencil, and lastly, it is finished with ink.

“The artwork is trying to portray a future, which people are addicted to the desire of junk food, with the expanded social issue: overweight. What’s also important, It reminds people that addiction is an ideology leading to bad consequences.

“This artwork explores the further understanding of the addiction, it is also meeting lots of struggles at the same time. Back in the day, I was trying to show a different form of addiction; however, I found out that what’s in people’s minds is much more important to show off than what attracted them. Therefore, I was focused on how people actively satisfy their desire rather than showing the attraction of the object.

“This year is very special and inspiring for me; the AP program and principal guide me on how to think deeply and precisely. What’s more, I am glad that I grow more experience and knowledge in making art.”

Here’s Xiaofu’s teacher Hyun Ju Park on Xiaofu’s work:

“A remote learning environment allowed my students to spend more time researching and reflecting on their inquiry. My students and I found the online tools given by College Board was very helpful and easy to follow. As a class, we tried to review many sample portfolios from past years to deepen our understanding of our expectations. In class, my students spent one day researching their inquiries and making small sketches. Other days, they shared their thoughts and experimentations with me before sharing them with the class. I had weekly meetings with each individual student during their art-making process. Each Friday, we spend time giving feedback to each other.

“The school and principal gave us an opportunity to open a small art show at our high school. Additionally, we created an online gallery for those who could not join us in person and decorated the art room as a small museum. Most of my formative assessments were small presentations about findings and sketches. My summative assessments were the final class presentation about their concentration. We dedicated this time to give more feedback and celebrate small personal achievements. We also spend time making more corrections if needed. I had the opportunity to invite other art teachers, administration, the marketing team, and parents to support and celebrate my student's work. I believe that having a calendar with expected due dates and important deadlines is very beneficial for my students. Students know their expectations and are excited about their achievements as time processes. I am so proud of how Xiaofu was able to enjoy this class and showed excellence through his work.”

And here are a few other works from Xiaofu’s portfolio:

Student and teacher statements are lightly edited for length and clarity.