Hengyu Wang (Visual Arts ‘18) came to The Academy after encouragement from a former teacher to continue pursuing his interest in the arts. Flying across the world to attend The Academy for his junior and senior years, he was instantly challenged and excited by the rigorous academic and arts curriculum.
During his time at The Academy, Hengyu pursued his love for photography that eventually led him to attend the Milwaukee Institute of Arts and Design for his undergraduate program. Hengyu graduated from MIAD and will be attending the California Institute of the Arts this upcoming fall for his graduate studies. As one of The Academy’s many international students, check out Hengyu’s story below about what it was like being a transfer student:
Tell us your Academy story.
Hengyu: I graduated back in 2018. I came here mainly because I was in Dubai at the time, and [a former teacher] recommended me – "Hey, if you want to learn art, why not come to the States and explore the options over here?" She lived in Chicago for a couple of years, heard about The Academy and said, "Why not just give it a try and see how you like the school?" I was finishing up my IGCSE study back then; that was when it all started. I flew all the way from the other side of the world and joined The Academy as a junior and have never looked back since.
What was your experience like when you came here as an 11th grader?
Hengyu: The program itself was very different from what I expected. In my [previous] school, we didn't put much emphasis on artistic practice, so it was very different knowing that you would spend the afternoon just doing art. And that was very overwhelming in the beginning. I started slowly working with Mrs. Stover and Mrs. Moore and built some connections with some alumni.
What's life been like since The Academy?
Hengyu: I've been exploring different artistic elements and practices and spent my undergrad fine-tuning all the aspects I learned in The Academy. I'm taking some time off from the academic environment right now, as I have been focusing on my graduate school applications (accepted by Calarts) and other exciting opportunities. Looking at my graduate school portfolio, I see so many connections between my early works and the portfolio I have right now, all inspired by these elements that I got influenced by at The Academy. Life literally came to a full circle.
What did you enjoy most about your time here? What's something you won't ever forget about The Academy?
Hengyu: The intimate connection between the students and the faculty members. Especially since I came from a massive school, from elementary all the way to high school. Coming into a school with less than 150 people was very strange initially. Like, you know everyone there: I know where Patera is, where Sara Langford's office is, where I can find Ben Dicke, where everything is. It was overwhelming, but the more time you spend there, the more connections you build. And you can eventually use these connections to create interesting projects and take those as inspirations to incorporate into your work, which I found very interesting.
Is there a certain style of photography that you gravitate towards?
Hengyu: Not in particular; my goal in photography is to capture the time and relative dimensions in space, to rewind a specific moment inside my memory. This is what my practice is based on: how time can change oneself physically and emotionally. Yet, a piece of photograph can bring back those moments after all those years.
What are you working on right now?
Hengyu: Mostly writing, I've been trying to gather my thoughts and create some unique projects before I start going back to school again. Definitely not the most exciting compared to all the vibrant activities other alums do, but I'm really looking forward to seeing the final result.
How do you think your arts informed your academics and vice versa?
Hengyu: There is certainly a connection, but I've been keeping it separate as I always have difficulty visualizing and expressing my thoughts. That's one of the reasons I started writing more, to gather and intertwine all the ideas. It's definitely challenging, but this is a process of experimenting and trying.
What is one piece of advice you would give an incoming freshman?
Hengyu: Just try everything. You have the youth advantage and tremendous possibilities to explore different crafts. Learn the fundamentals, build that foundation and create your own path.
And what is one piece of advice you would give to an outgoing senior?
Hengyu: Congratulations to the Class of 2023! If you have already been accepted by an institution, good luck! If you are still deciding, this is a great time to explore all the awesome opportunities around you. It may be daunting, but this is where you get the most of the growth.
Do you have anything for us that you want to add or anything that you wish you could say to the students? … Or to younger you?
Hengyu: Honestly, it's great knowing that I found The Academy, knowing everyone here. It stays the same. Every time I come back to The Academy, it feels like I've never left; it never changes. At the same time, we know it's evolving, creating new talents. It was mind-blowing knowing the fact that everyone is constantly evolving and improving.
But, Mr. Jackson is always there.
