Abounding with pastel colors reminiscent of childhood, senior design and applied arts student Joyce Lee’s new exhibit “PLAY-LIFE” touches on themes of nostalgia and technological progress.
Lee’s exhibition opened on February 20 at the USC Roski Studios Building on Flower Street and will be on view through March 4. The artist’s exhibition description begs the question “As technology becomes more human, what does it mean to stay childlike in a digital age?”
“PLAY-LIFE is an exhibit I wanted to do after starting a laser-cut wood piece in a painting class last year,” Lee said. “I liked the juxtaposition I did, where it was colorful and bright and childish, but it was also about technology.”
The exhibition’s entrance is marked by a wall lined with six circular clocks of varying shades. In place of numbers are markers of typical everyday objects — from toilet seats to apples. The use of playful, non-numerical objects creates a sense of innocence and curiosity.
“[The clocks] are basically about how my day in a life looked in childhood before I had an idea of what time even was, and how every hour was just kind of being held by a gentle rhythm of a certain object, routine, or an activity,” Lee said. Other object images in the clocks include flowers and cars.
Turning around reveals a series of canvases characterized by lattice patterns and soft, muted tones. According to the description, the square frames are meant to remind audiences of simpler times brimming with light-hearted and joyful memories. Lee’s plaid motif is most prominent in this section of the exhibit.
“Plaid is a texture and pattern that’s very nostalgic for me, [and] my show is also about childhood nostalgia,” said Lee. “You wear flannel a lot as a kid, you also see it at birthday parties a lot, it’s usually what’s covering the table, right?.”
In addition to the pieces on the walls, two sculptures are housed within “PLAY-LIFE’s” vibrant atmosphere. One is titled “Shy Robot,” and the other is “Bored Robot.” The two robots are displayed in the center of the exhibit on tall, white pedestals. “Bored Robot,” sits to the right of “Shy Robot,” on a higher pedestal than its counterpart. The robot sculpture is blue and lies horizontally next to a red box clock bigger than itself.
“For ‘Bored Robot,’ comparing a very static, looking, childish robot with a big clock compared to its own body — it’s very much about doom scrolling just on my phone or on the internet all day,” said Lee.
On the contrary, “Shy Robot” is meant to represent something of an opposite to this side of childhood identity. “Shy Robot,” is much smaller and a bright orange, standing next to a large multi-colored flower.
“It’s like a self-portrait of me when I’m just enjoying life or the simplicity of the day in nature. So kind of turning those two sides [of myself] together,” said Lee.
Roski School of Art and Design students can exhibit their work in USC’s museums, but the process is entirely optional. There is an application process for students interested in showing at one of the Roski studios; however, much of the process is student-led.
“You apply and end up being paired randomly with one or two students, but it’s completely self-led. You’re just left with an empty, white gallery and there’s no curator involved,” Lee said. “Every student who does get a gallery showing has an advisor, but it’s up to that student and their relationship with their advisor to see how involved that professor would get.”
For students who are accepted to display their artwork in a Roski gallery, it can be an opportunity to sell their pieces. Not every show sells the featured pieces, though.
“I initially actually was not very open [to selling my pieces], because I wasn’t making my art for monetary desires,” said Lee. “But as I was making my art, many friends expressed that they wanted me to put it up for sale, so [I did] but I kept it at a lower price.”
Lee’s multimedia, three-part exhibit is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, and admission is free.