Artist of the Year: Alex Zhang

In his poems, you get a hint of author Maggie Nelson’s language from her book, “Bluets.” In his photos, you get a glimpse of photographer Flora Borsi’s “IRÉEL.” However, senior Alex Zhang’s works combine lyric essays and poems with a personal flare, plexiglass and paint with a unique creativity and present what can only be characterized by particularity and precision—what can only be produced by Zhang.

Zhang’s interest in photography began in middle school when he took a class in elementary photography. A slight interest then blossomed into a passion when Zhang arrived at Exeter and took Introduction to Photography.

“That was when I started to really enjoy photography,” Zhang said. “After Photo 1, I continued doing photo shoots on the weekends and practiced as much as I could. [After that year,] I also went to a photography summer camp.”

Since Introduction to Photography, Zhang has moved on to complete an Art 444 project as well as an Art 999 series. Zhang said that as his photography skills progressed he began to seek the works of professional photographers—such as Borsi and Olivia Bee—for inspiration and eventually developed his own artistic identity.

Zhang said that of all of his pieces so far, he is most proud of his 999 series from this past winter term—the course culminated with a pop-up show in the Lamont Art Gallery. “I was so happy with how the images turned out and I felt like the photos definitely sent a message to viewers and made them stop and look,” he said.

“His dedication to the art form is incredible, and he reminds me daily of what it takes to be a writer and reminds me to continue to discover and grow as a writer not just in the private confines of a journal, but in the industry itself and the real world.”

Zhang added,“Plenty of people came up to me and asked me how I took the images and that’s when I knew I had produced good work.”             Zhang said that one of the reasons why he enjoys photography so much is due to the art’s capacity to capture images of his friends and its provision of opportunities for him to connect with them.”

“My favorite people to photograph are absolutely friends—it’s always a fun day to go out to the woods or the studio and spend a few hours taking photos and laughing,” Zhang said. “I’ve worked with [senior] Julia Borneman and Millie Dunstan ’15 several times in the past and they’ve been awesome models every time.”

Bornemann commended Zhang for his “clear vision ... creative freedom ... openness to new ideas” and his ability to balance all of the aforementioned elements. She noted Zhang’s ability to bring his work to a level that’s both comfortable and personal.

“We may go into a shoot with one plan and emerge from it with an organically grown concept, but we always tend to follow a clear cut aesthetic that Alex is after,” Bornemann said. “He is definitely wonderful to work with and I feel so lucky to have experienced his art on such an intimate level.”

One of Alex’s favorite subjects, Dunstan, echoed Bornemann’s sentiments and added that Zhang has developed into a photographer who is able to naturally archive and present emotions through his work.

“While at Exeter, Alex asked me to assist him in some of his photo projects and I always admired the creativity and sense of purpose he displayed in directing his photography,” Dunstan said. “What I have noticed most about all of Alex’s work is that he has mastered the ability to capture human emotion in a way that engages the viewer on a deeper level.”

Dunstan also accentuated Zhang’s ability to challenge the viewers and remove them from their comfort zone—an often necessary action in art, according to her.

“The purpose of art is to make people view the world differently in some way, to create sense of purpose. Sometimes in order to do this the artist must make the viewer uncomfortable—push boundaries and question the norm. I have seen this develop in Alex’s work. I am so proud of him,” she said.

Along with photography, Zhang is also an accomplished writer. Zhang attributed the origins of his passion for writing to two individuals: his brother, Mitchell, and English instructor Jane Cadwell.

“When [Mitchell] was in high school, he submitted to magazines and was the head of a literary magazine so I grew up reading his poetry and writing and being amazed. I knew that I wanted to one day write like him,” Zhang said. “Then near the end of lower year, I started growing more interested in writing and began reading more often outside of class. I remember my teacher—Ms. Cadwell—encouraged me to pursue poetry and continue improving my craft.”

Since his lower year, Zhang has continued writing poetry outside of class and during his upper year, he applied for the Academy of American Poets internship. According to Zhang, “the internship changed [his] life.”

“I spent six weeks reading and writing poetry on a daily basis. I came back in the fall a completely different writer,” Zhang said.

Now, Zhang has been commended by the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award, has been on the editor’s list for the Adroit Prizes, and received gold medals from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for writing portfolio, poetry and personal essay/memoir and best in grade for personal essay/memoir. He was also the first place winner of the Sierra Nevada College High School Writing Contest.

On campus, Zhang is the co-head of the school’s spoken word club—WORD—and the co-Editor-in-Chief of Pendulum, the school’s literary arts magazine.

Zhang’s peers commended him for his devotion and talent. “As a poet, Alex is my mentor, my role model and my muse,” senior Annie Ning, a co-head of WORD, said. “His dedication to the art form is incredible, and he reminds me daily of what it takes to be a writer and reminds me to continue to discover and grow as a writer not just in the private confines of a journal, but in the industry itself and the real world.”

“Alex is a writer that is compelled to write,” Ning added. “I think that’s what’s so deeply moving about his poetry.”

English instructor Matthew Miller also praised Zhang’s poetry for its craft and musicality.

“Alex is a talented poet, one who works hard at the craft and discipline of the art form. He has an eye for the stirring images and an ear for compelling music so his poems go past the eyes and get into your bones,” he said.

Bornemann agreed and emphasized Zhang’s originality. “Describing Alex’s written pieces is really difficult because there is nothing really like it. Simply put, Alex’s writing is fresh. It’s new. It’s edgy. It’s raw, and simultaneously possesses classic elements of style and beauty which—in my humble opinion—lift it way up and into a whole other caliber of prose,” Bornemann said. “I am moved and brought to reconsider ideas by his words every time I read them.”