Jung-Mei Wou is an artist and an assistant professor who specializes in visual aesthetics and related arts courses at the university. Her artistic work spans various mediums, including sculpture, painting, and installation art, with photography playing a central role in her creative expression.
My name is Jung-Mei Wou, and I'm an artist and an assistant professor specializing in visual aesthetics and related arts courses at the university. My artistic endeavors span across various mediums such as sculpture, painting, and installation art, with photography being an integral part of my expression.
Photography, particularly pictorial photography, has been a cherished pursuit of mine for quite some time. It has allowed me to infuse my work with a sense of poetry and depth. Through the interplay of light and sculpture, a new dimension is created, allowing photography to explore abstract thinking in the artwork. It's a journey I cherish every step of the way, one that continues to inspire and captivate me.
Yes, I remember clearly! During my university years as an art major, I used my father's Asahi Pentax Spotmatic to capture black-and-white photos of my family in our garden. Developing these images in the darkroom was a fascinating experience.
I was also impressed by how the same camera captured classic architecture during a European trip at the end of my freshman year. Before transitioning to digital, I worked with a Nikon FM2, and now work with a full-frame Nikon digital camera. Photography remains a crucial medium for documenting and expressing my artistic creations.
The most inspiring compliment I received was when someone remarked that my work not only captures the visible form but also conveys an abstract, poetic essence.
They saw in my photography a balance of elegance and strength—a harmony that touches the heart and resonates deeply with the beauty and power inherent in the subject. This recognition of the intangible qualities in my work reaffirmed my belief in the profound impact that art can have on the human spirit.
The winning works I entered into the MUSE Photography Awards are reflections of my exploration of form, light, and the balance between the tangible and intangible.
"Dandelion Fantasia" captures a stainless steel dandelion sculpture animated by light, evoking a journey through nature's fleeting beauty.
"Galaxy" draws inspiration from the textures of metal sculptures, connecting them to the vast complexity of the Milky Way, creating an abstract cosmic parallel.
"Soaring Beyond Limits" embodies the essence of flight through my sculpture "Flying," symbolizing the boundless potential of the human spirit.
"The Winged Nike" captures a bird in flight, a visual ode to the pursuit of freedom.
I entered these projects because they blend my sculptural and photographic practices, pushing the boundaries of traditional photography by merging physical form with light and shadow, inviting deeper emotional and conceptual engagement.
Jung-Mei Wou is an artist and an assistant professor who specializes in visual aesthetics and related arts courses at the university. Her artistic work spans various mediums, including sculpture, painting, and installation art, with photography playing a central role in her creative expression.
Read more about this interview with Claire Jeanjan from France, the Platinum Winner of the 2024 MUSE Photography Awards.