“Painted Ego,” an exhibit by senior studio art major Alex Khau, was on display at the R.W. Witt and Joyce Gallery Oct. 28 – Oct. 31. A mixture of fine arts and mixed media, the collection holds a combination of realistic and fantasy portraits.
Khau said his artistic journey began in middle school, his parents who are both artists themselves created an environment for Khau to experience it as a kid. He said friends and family are a major inspiration for his work. He incorporates them in most pieces, along with other elements, to further polish those subjects’ unique characteristics.
“For this collection, I mainly stick with people’s portraits, and those are people I love and adore,” Khau said. “I’m happy people will recognize each other as they come into the exhibit and have the reaction of ‘Oh my gosh, I know her.’”
Besides the inspiration from people around him, Khau also blends internet memes into a few of his works. Such paintings are another mixture of realism and fantasy, but with an added trendy visual of the time that twists it in a humorous way.
“Pop memes that people always recognize could bring some humor to the workplace. I like seeing people laughing and telling each other that they know that exact meme,” Khau said.
Areen Kaur, a senior studio fine arts major and a classmate of Khau’s, said how she’s impressed by his works and the progress he’s made in the creative field over time.
“Last semester, I got to enjoy his art without bias because we were only classmates. This semester, as we became friends, I then got to see how his mind works as he’s making art,” Kaur said. “Having a deep connection with how he creates art is interesting, as I was able to see the differences as he grew over the semesters.”
Kaur said she enjoys how Khau pays attention to small details, which brings a more profound effect in his works.
“I’m obsessed with the exhibit today. Khau was able to capture the little precise moment along with the person’s character that people usually overlook because people don’t think it would make such a big change,” Kaur said. “I know this sounds very biased, but if I didn’t know him, I’m still very impressed by his works.”
Kaur was also an inspiration for one of Khau’s artworks in the show. She was the subject in a painting that brought a feeling of softness in nature.
(Photo by Minh Anh Tang)
Gabby Bocchicchio, a senior fashion merchandising and management major, shared her personal reflection after experiencing Khau’s work.
“I’ve never met any of these people, but they were all very relatable in situations that I’ve seen my friends in,” Bocchicchio said. “It feels representative of being our age in college. It was interesting to see such casual scenes in a painted context, because when we think of painting, we think of more traditional and historical, not modern.”
RELATED: ‘Memento Vivere’ art gallery at Sac State invites students to reflect on mortality and limited time
Shilly Chuong, another attendee at the exhibit, said she likes how Khau weaves together elements from everyday life, such as pop culture and internet memes, into his art.
“Khau showcases his message of surrealism well through the works [of friends and family] he has here,” Chuong said. “Besides, the mix of current memes into paintings is also funny.”
She also mentioned the technical aspect of color use in the works.
“In the past, Khau’s works were mainly black and white. He uses more color now, which shows how he has improved in his skill and knowledge with color theory,” Chuong said.
The “Painted Ego” showing was like a warm and intimate get-together, colliding art and the sentiments behind Alex Khau’s loved ones. It serves as a gentle reminder to students to cherish their relationships with friends and family, enjoy the little moments and embrace the beauty and art within everyday life.
(Photo by Minh Anh Tang)
The R.W. Witt and Joyce Gallery, located in Kadema Hall, has invited Sacramento State students to display and host their own independently run art shows and reception gatherings since 1962. It serves as a creative space for student artists to express themselves and have a platform to showcase their artwork to the general public.
The next exhibit in the R.W Witt Gallery will feature recent works by student artist Mikaela Kristianous from Nov. 4-7. An artist reception for the gallery will be held on the evening of Nov. 7 from 5-7 p.m.
