Thesis 2026/ Shimeng Wei

In my work, the protagonist is a wandering bird. At the beginning, it remains alone in a world of glaciers, where the cold and desolate landscape fills it with a deep sense of loneliness and longing. The bird felt helpless, confused and at a loss here. Drawn by an unseen calling, it sets out in search of another world. Guided by a distant melody, it flies toward a radiant, luminous planet.

There, it arrives in a strange and dreamlike realm. Everything seems to have drifted off its original course, trees that glow with their own light, rivers that shimmer with quiet magic. The entire world feels surreal and enchanting, almost intoxicating. After wandering through this world, the bird pauses. In a moment of reflection, looking back on its journey, it comes to realize that the self it had been searching for had always been within. With this understanding, it rises once more, and slowly flies toward a horizon even more distant.The protagonist is a wandering bird and a quiet embodiment of the hope that resides deep within my inner world.

At the beginning of this project, I was deeply influenced by the poetic writings of Kahlil Gibran. I initially approached the work through the idea of creating an art book inspired by his philosophy. Over time, however, the project gradually evolved and became more focused on a central idea that connects closely with my own personal experiences.

I aim to use a visual language that is gentle and soft, yet still carries an inner strength, to express both the narrative and the emotional transformation of the protagonist.

At first, I chose to create the entire project using digital media. As the work developed, I began incorporating pencil sketches, producing a series of storyboards to explore and refine the narrative. Through this process, I realized that the sense of authenticity I was searching for could be more effectively conveyed through traditional media. The texture and tactility of physical materials felt more aligned with the emotional tone of my work, especially in depicting the fantastical world within the story. During the process, I experimented with colored pencils, markers, and watercolor, combining these materials in my work.

As a result, colored pencils allowed me to create a sense of lightness and breath in the images. I began using colored pencils for my color studies, and eventually adopted them as the primary medium for the final pieces.

In my exhibition, I aim to create a mysterious and dreamy temperament inspired by the second world in my book, a space filled with strange plants, glowing mysterious houses and distant stars.The core of the exhibition consists of three final paintings. To soften the overall environment. I incorporate the cotton elements into the display, creating a gentle and immersive atmosphere. My artbook presents the full creative process behind the project, as well as my ongoing fascination with imaging and expressing a magical world.

When audiences enter my exhibition, I hope it can be a quiet and engaging journey. They can begin by reading the text. My art book offers insight into my creative process, including how the story developed and how my practice involved. Then my audience would appreciate the final painting, presented within the atmosphere of the mysterious and dreamlike world. As they move through the space, they are also able to notice smaller details from my experiment.

Website: http://shimengwei.com

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