Sinag Fernandez
2nd-year student, Bachelor of Visual Arts Te Tohu Paetahi mō Toi Ataata with a minor in Cinematic Arts
She always knew that she wanted to have a creative career, says Sinag Fernandez who is studying a Bachelor of Visual Arts Te Tohu Paetahi mō Toi Ataata.
“I was one of those kids that just never stopped doing arts and crafts. It was a matter of picking which creative path to take, and for me that was visual arts.
“I chose visual arts because art can express something that is so incommunicable otherwise, and art is so transcendent and magical. My first visit to an art museum solidified this for me. On my 15th birthday, I went to Pinto Art Museum and Antipolo in the Philippines, and I remember so vividly feeling overcome with transcendence, and so much of the world was revealed to me. In the future, I’d love to be a full-time artist and participate in exhibitions here in Aotearoa, in the Philippines and internationally.”
Finding her community
Sinag says she chose to study at AUT because of the various high-end facilities the university has; especially because in her first year she wasn’t entirely sure if she wanted to focus on sculpture, photography or painting.
“I knew that the facilities in AUT would allow me to explore my art practice in all these mediums. The facilities and community you get at AUT are like no others. The lecturers and staff are incredibly insightful, warm and encouraging. They’re also well connected across the wider Aotearoa art community, so the connections you can develop from this as a student is great. Even just mentioning that you're studying at AUT and who your lecturers are can be a good conversational topic in the art world.
“I also love that the visual arts department sends out an occasional newsletter to keep us students sin the loop what's happening in the arts community, including residencies, events, exhibitions and grants. I was also given the opportunity to be a peer mentor for first-year students, and I’ve loved being able to give back to my community a little bit. I’m looking forward to Talk Week in my third year, an event where third-year and postgraduate students can get their work viewed and critiqued by established art practitioners like curators and artists.”
The studio culture is what she has enjoyed the most.
“The conversations I have with my lecturers and peers are deeply insightful. I also highly appreciate having a dedicated space to making. I stay in the studio outside class time a lot, going there after work and during weekends. Having a studio space has really helped focus on making work.”
Advice for other students
With only one more year of her studies ahead of her, Sinag has some great advice for other students.
“Learn how to manage everything – your studies, your community and your life outside of it, and take care of yourself. This includes asking for help, knowing when to rest and when to push through, and knowing how you work. Of course, this takes time and reflection. I can't stress enough the asking for help part; talk to your lecturers, peers, friends and family. You’ll draw strength from your community, and your people will draw strength from you as well.”
Don't be afraid to put yourself out there, she adds.
“Go to galleries, artist talks and events. Apply to opportunities and ask how to be involved in something you want to. This is something I'm proud to have done as it led me to be a volunteer at Artspace Aotearoa and an intern at the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art.”
