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Akina Zhang was born in a special period when China implemented the one-child policy and immigrated to Canada with her parents when she was a teenager. Under the impact and influence of multiple cultures she discovered that the difficulties and pressures faced by women in different societies are universal. After Akina completed the Bachelor of Design in Industrial Design at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, she enrolled in the School of Jewelry and Metal Art at Academy of Art University, where she decided to base her MFA thesis on the topic of exploration and research of women. Her work explores the problems and pressures that women of all ages and cultural backgrounds face in society including domestic violence, sexual discrimination in the workplace, and fertility issues. Her work also expresses the power and energy that women exude in all aspects.
As a woman, Akina strives to gain knowledge about pressure, struggle, endurance, resistance and other aspects from female friends of different ages and backgrounds. Patriarchal societies have taught women how they should behave, what they should do, and who they should be. Akina realizes that there are many things that seem to be told and defined from birth, such as women should obey, women should have children, and women should belong to the family. Akina's thesis topic draws inspiration from these problems and pressures faced by women, hoping that people, including women themselves, will think about whether this really should be the case. |
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Education
2023 MFA, Jewelry and Metal Arts Academy of Art University, San Francisco 2023 Certificate, Colored Stone Essentials Gemological Institute of America 2018 BDes, Industrial Design Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Vancouver Awards 2023 Academy of Art University, The 2ND PLACE of category MFA in Jewelry and Metal Arts Department Group Exhibitions 2023 Spring Show, Academy of Art University, San Francisco 2021 Spring Show, Academy of Art University, San Francisco |