School of Visual Arts presents “Around & Through,” an exhibition of thesis work by the MPS Digital Photography class of 2023. Curated by New York City gallerist and SVA faculty member Debra Klomp Ching, “Around & Through” is viewable from Wednesday, October 11, through Monday, October 30, at the SVA Gramercy Gallery, 209 E 23^rd Street, New York, NY.

In explaining the title, exhibition curator Debra Klomp Ching says, “To go around, suggests a meandering of sorts, a discovery of things, places and ideas; building knowledge and experiences from all angles perhaps. To go through, suggests a more directed path from Point A to Point B; knowing one’s destination at the point of setting out. If we bring these two paths together, it suggests a journey that is resolute, but where the final destination is determined by what is discovered along the way.”

MPS Digital Photography chair Tom P. Ashe expands, “There is a journey and struggle implied by the title ‘Around & Through.’  All the artists in this exhibition have dealt with obstacles: some technical, many conceptual, and often personal and idiosyncratic, but in the end, they have all found their way.”

With her project “Gods in Color” Zhengtao Er merges CGI, history and fashion to challenge Eurocentric perspectives, infusing ancient Roman and Greek sculptures with contemporary vibrancy through models of various skin tones adorned in modern high-fashion outfits, highlighting the overlooked diversity of the ancient world.

Through the creation of staged photographs, Lifu Hu’s “First Love” seeks to document the troubling relationship with her first boyfriend. The project is an attempt to rediscover herself and her ex through a reexamination of their relationship.

Hsin I Lin’s “Interspace” is a narrative video that explores philosophical issues in life, portions of which are shown in the exhibition. The story centers around the waking dreams of the characters, and explores the gap between existentialism, nihilism and the transient nature of human experience.

Combining painting, photography, installations and video, Yiling Lu’s “Balance” explores the concept of tranquility within the chaotic city, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the interplay of the tangible and intangible as they journey from mountains to urban environments. Through carefully crafted visual composition and audiovisual elements, the project creates a meditative exploration, offering moments of stillness and reflection amidst the noise and complexity of the city.

Maria Suarez’s “Mothers” consists of a series of portraits and interviews of mothers and their children, highlighting the bond between them. The series showcases a mother’s instinctual need to protect her children and give them lots of affection. At the same time, the interviews share some of the challenges that women face during the early stages of a child’s life.

In his project “Lost in Zero-COVID” Haofeng Yu uses staged images and propaganda posters to critically explore his perspective on China's Zero-COVID policy. The images include an element of satire, questioning whether the Chinese state’s restrictive policy was appropriate or harmful.

Celebrating its 16^th year, the Masters in Professional Studies in Digital Photography at SVA is an intensive one-year graduate degree program that addresses the digital image capture, workflow, exhibition printing, sound, video and visual storytelling skills, which professional photographers and photo educators require to be at the vanguard of commercial, fine art, portrait and fashion photography practices. Within the year, the diverse and talented students excel at producing conceptually compelling and technically outstanding images, and are ideally positioned to pursue gallery representation, editorial or commercial work, as well as high-end digital retouching and consulting careers.

The SVA Gramercy Gallery is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00am–6:00pm. Masks are encouraged but not required.