Fine Art nominee

The wings we grow out of our flesh are not perfect and flawless, nor indestructible and mighty. We've mastered at growing them and using them, but we've never truly learned how to mend them. With a world drowned by tides pushing us and ripping us in all directions, we often fall into darkness when hit upon a plateau in life--hopeless and on the verge of giving up. We cared so much about competition, that we forgot to mend our wings.

Our lives don't stop there when you achieve something such as growing wings, it is learning to mend our wings that keep us moving and stronger.

This photograph is a self-portrait taken during an artist block, and during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. I didn't even know how to pose nor what to wear. I usually wear dresses during photoshoots, and this time I only wore a leotard and crouched down in front of my camera, admitting my defeat.

Fiona Hsu was born in February of 2001 in Orange County, California. At the age of five, her artistic journey ignited when she was encouraged to make paper dolls instead of playing with cheap plastic toys. As she became better with her hands, her paper friends inspired her to keep creating. And so a passion for art ignited. She started drawing and painting on her own ever since, and during her recovery from a foot tendon surgery back in 2015, she developed a blazing passion for fine art photography at the age of fourteen.

In Fiona’s greatest achievements, she was shortlisted in London International Creative Competition in the student photography division in 2020, and awarded as Nominee in fine art (amateaur catergory) in the 7th Fine Art Photography Awards international competition. Fiona graduated from Emile Cohl Atelier in 2021 with a certificate and environment design, and is currently an undergraduate student at UCLA pursuing a major in studio art and minor in art education. She is currently working as a freelancer in photography and digital art/design for independent clients and businesses.