Mika von Oertzen Chang

Rhode Island School of Design '28

I make art about things I can’t express. 

When all words fail, all my thoughts choke, my emotions linger. Art becomes a conduit capturing the internal through external expression. I’ve been exploring emotional landscapes as a way to visualize my state of mind through something tangible. By using mediums such as ink and marker, I add permanence to my work, cementing fleeting moments otherwise lost in time.  

Distortion visualizes what I can’t. I like exploring the intersection of patterns through geometry and nature. By using detail, repetition, and distortion I can guide the viewer's eye and explore the relationship between myself and the audience through my work. 

Decomposition encompasses all that is around us. From the buildings we sit in to the very flesh and blood pumping within, everything will eventually rot and return to the earth. Patterns of decay stand out to me because they bridge the gap between mankind and nature. We are one and the same. 

What I like most about art is how unconstrained it is. It can exist beyond the binary while still becoming a powerful medium to express and relate to one another.