2020 Alumni Scholarship Award Winner: Ming Wang

"Don't limit yourself to what you already know"

April 28, 2020
An oil painting of a Barbie doll in the desert

Lost in Desert, 2019, oil painting on canvas. 44" by 24"

Over the past few weeks, SVA has been highlighting some of the many outstanding projects by its 2020 Alumni Scholarship Award winners. Today's featured thesis project is by BFA Illustration student Ming Wang, whose "Journey to the West" series of oil paintings depicts a Chinese Ming-Barbie's adventures through toy-populated American landscapes.


Tell us about your project. What inspired the idea?

"Journey to the West" depicts a Barbie doll that resembles me, wandering in the stereotypical American landscape. I build magical spaces of mass-produced toys inhabiting the Wild West. As an international student from China, I grew up with fantasy ideas about the United States because of pretty toys, dolls and Disney movies. Barbies are my motif because of their American Wild West iconography and because they are the product of industrialization and globalization. 


Barbies were produced in my hometown, and these toys provide fantasies about both the American and Chinese dreams; they are mass-produced and sold around the world. "Journey to the West" presents an illusion of a free and happy life in the United States, but the characters who live in this world still have difficulties. Is there a best place to spend one's life? Can one find true happiness by owning wealth? These are the questions I asked through my work.

An oil painting of two cowboy Barbie dolls smoking  and looking at the sky

Ming Wang, Night Hill, 2019, oil on canvas.

What most surprised you once you started working on the project? 

At first, I was only planning to make one painting about Barbie. To my surprise, I became more and more engaged through research and it gradually turned into my thesis project.


What was a highlight of living and studying in New York City? 

I enjoy visiting museums and galleries in New York City a lot! I also love the botanic gardens in Brooklyn. They always keep me calm and inspired.


What is something you learned at SVA that you'll always take with you? 

I learned that I like painting! Also, the honors program helped me cultivate the habit of reading and curiosity of knowledge of art, which I found very motivating.

An oil painting of a cow boy Barbie doll sitting on a cactus in the desert.

Ming Wang, The Fall, 2019, oil on canvas.

Was there a teacher or course that was essential for you? 

I met many inspiring instructors during my study in SVA, and I appreciated their help. Joo Chung was my instructor in the Pictorial Problem course in junior year. He taught me how to work consistently and create resolved images.


What was your favorite piece of advice that a teacher or student shared with you?

Be a little stubborn about what you want to achieve.


What advice do you have for next year's students going through your program? 

The BFA Illustration program has a large variety of courses. Take advantage of it and try things out. Don't limit yourself to what you already know.


For this year's SVA Alumni Scholarship Awards, a record 74 students were chosen from a pool of over 212 applicants and were granted scholarships worth more than $60,000 for projects as varied as design products, animation, painting and photography. For more information about the Alumni Scholarship Awards and to see a complete list of this year's recipients, click here.


For more information about SVA's BFA Illustration program, click here.