Two Senior Thesis Shows by Aubree Andres and Yankia Ned
The Visual Arts Program of the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University will present “&thunk,” an exhibition of collages by senior Aubree Andres, and “Talking to You is Exhausting,” an exhibition of portraits and text-based paintings by senior Yankia Ned. Their work will be on view March 13 through March 17 in Room 301 and the Lucas Gallery at 185 Nassau Street. An opening reception with Andres will be held on March 13 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 301, and an opening reception with Ned will be held on March 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lucas Gallery. The exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public.
One of the collages by Aubree Andres to be included in her senior thesis exhibition, “&thunk.” Photo courtesy Aubree Andres
In “&thunk,” Andres explores the incomplete narratives that form because humans are unable to communicate what they truly mean. The collages, which have strong ties to her family as she worked on a majority of them at home with her family on breaks, include paint, magazine images, and photographs, all of which contribute to the chaos of broken narratives and control of choice and intentional production. Andres hopes that those who visit her exhibition come to the realization that their individual perspectives of what is going on around them is as valid as anybody else’s perspective.
Andres, who is from Cambridge, Massachusetts, is majoring in anthropology and earning a certificate in visual arts. She sees a distinct parallel in how her two senior theses, although not connected, explore subjectivity in relation to art and culture. Andres has been interested in art since she was very young; her mother works for an arts foundation and they would often create or collaborate on work together. “I took an introductory sculpture course in the spring of my freshman year and fell in love with the Lewis Center,” she notes. She has taken a number of sculpture courses, her favorites being those with artist and faculty member Martha Friedman, whom she notes as a significant influence. Andres’ plans after Princeton include moving to South America for a few years while continuing to be creative.
One of the portraits by Yankia Ned to be included in her senior thesis exhibition, “Talking to You is Exhausting.” Photo courtesy Yankia Ned
In “Talking to You is Exhausting,” Ned explores a series of selfie-based portraits that poke fun at herself, her friends, and her loved ones. A second series of text-based paintings are focused on the same portrait subjects, using a combination of glitter and watercolors.
Ned, who is from Jacksonville, Florida, initially came to Princeton with the intention of majoring in anthropology. Her interest in visual arts and a painting course during her freshman year, however, led her to decide to major in visual art through a collaborative program between the Department of Art and Archaeology and the Lewis Center. She notes the influences of a printmaking course with faculty member and artist Daniel Heyman and an advanced painting course with faculty member and artist Pam Lins.
Both Room 301 and the Lucas Gallery at 185 Nassau Street are open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
