Alexander Kang portfolio

Graphite, Soft Pastel on Drawing Paper

Korean karaoke, a place students, including myself, go to in order to get rid of stress from school and life. Noraebang in Korea isn't just a form of entertainment; it's comfort. Whether we were sad, overwhelmed, or just bored, singing became a way to let go of everything we'd been holding in.

The glowing lyrics across the screen and the relaxed postures of the figures indicate the way music can soothe even in times of final or other stresses. Karaoke reunites friends who may be struggling separately find themselves together again in the same room, sharing the same song. This piece shows how these small, familiar spaces become emotional shelters, reminding us that even in hard moments, we are not alone.

Song that represents the piece: “이젠 안녕" By 015TB

Quote: “And hesitated to talk casually as friends. We spend a lot of days immersed in music. This countless days but it's a pity that we can’t go back to”

Canvas, Paint, Paint Brush

This piece shows two figures captured in a street mirror, their bodies stretched and blurred by distortion and the wrinkles of the mirror. Warped reflection takes a simple moment that turns it into something dreamlike memories and the ways memories shift and reshape over time. Even as the surroundings melt into abstract patterns, the closeness between the figures remains clear, highlighting how connection remains constant, even when everything else feels uncertain or unreal. Background may stay same but the memories with that person fades away as we move on to the future and leave the past behind.

Song that represents this piece : “Nigh Changes” by One Direction

Quote: “Does it drive you crazy. Just how fast the night changes? Everything you’ve ever dreamed of. Disappering when you wake up”

Charcoal, Soft Pastel on Drawing Paper

This is a double self portrait of my freshman self and my senior self. The freshman version sits glued to my phone, full of hope, dreams, and that innocent excitement about the future wearing college pants as symbols of who I want to become. The senior version looks back down at him, remembering those days with longing and knowing that I have to leave the version of myself behind, even as I wishe I could live through it one more time.

Song that this pieces relates to is BIGBANG's "Last Dance," captures the ache that comes with growing up, holding onto the memories that defined me, knowing time only moves forward. It is my silent good bye to the youngslef I was, and the reality check on how fast youth really slips away from us all.

Quote: “And even all the many friends I had are leaving me. I've gotten older so I guess I become an adult. Why am I so anxious?”

Am I Maturing or Just Getting Older?

Canvas, Paint, Paint Brush

This piece reflects upon a moment tied to a high school relationship that are often dismissed as small or immature. But its a though that can leave some of the deepest marks on us. In the painting, soft colors, shared space, and quiet intimacy capture the simplicity of young love, the type of connection that feels effortless until it isn't. The stuffed animal, casual closeness, and the act of drawing together become symbols of when love felt safe and uncomplicated.

Behind this gentle scene is the fact that the first heartbreak hurts the most. It forces us to grow, to understand ourselves, and to learn how to protect our hearts without closing them fully. Like "Every Breath You Take," a song many mistake for a love song, this piece of art has a deeper ache lying beneath its calm surface. What once felt comforting becomes painful to revisit, making memories quiet lessons on how to move forward.

Quote: “I look around but it's you I can't replace. I feel so cold, and I long for your embrace.”