Advisor: Stephanie Dinkins

Lost… are you? By Noah Negishi

Title: Lost… are you?, Date: November 2021, Dimensions: 14784 × 2112 px, Medium: Digital Art

This work is a narrative of how we sometimes wish for an easier answer in life, as we navigate through the twists and turns. And in coming to terms with the realization that, we are not truly lost because we are not alone in what we go through, and each of us is in control of our individual choices.

One character is featured continuously in this panorama and is presented as our protagonist. Their texture is double-coated, with the glowing material seeping out from the edges, symbolic of how each one of us glows from the inside. They sit at the bottom of the steps, wishing for a clearer sign to lead them. Many of the ideals that the protagonist has is a reflection of ours.

Meeting our older selves, for instance, is something that has at least crossed our minds. Where will we be in a year? We might ask them.

We all have a device or a tool that we gravitate towards to seek help. The floating magic eight ball represents a consulting practice that I had in my childhood. These tools do not always give us the right answer or the answers we are looking for, but at least it gives us some reassurance.

Whales are excellent at knowing where they have to go and when. I see whales as a symbol of light and direction. They represent our friends and family who often assist us in making the best decisions.

All the lit windows at night remind us that we are not alone during this quiet time.

We face ups and downs in life constantly but every time we reach the lows, we have to remind ourselves that we cannot be lost because we are not alone in this journey. The structure of this work was inspired by graphic novels, and the way they can connect two disjointed ideas on one sheet of paper.