Keng Hwa

Profession

Foundation Plus Alum

College

Central Saint Martins

Person Type

Alumni

Biography

Interview

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what inspires your work?

I am Keng Hwa, a graduate of London College of Communication, and I'm from Malaysia. My inspiration to work is to keep on learning, it's always a good time to learn, no matter how old we get. There's always lessons in everyday we live. My work is a good way to reflect on myself. My work takes on an identity I present, and I am sure everybody would want to present an authenticity in their work, so I would need to sit back and ask myself, what is it in my work I am trying to say? And why? And from there, I start to see what kind of person I am. If I like what I see, then great! If not, then how can I make it so I can like myself a bit better?

What have you been up to since graduating from Foundation Plus Diploma in Art and Design at Central Saint Martins?

I went on to study BA Photography at my first choice college, London College of Communication. I learnt many remarkable things there, and met some amazing people. After I graduation I started working for a photography studio, ZINQ Studio, as a photographer's assistant and project coordinator.

How would you describe your experience on the foundation plus course and how did it encourage the way you work now?

FAD+ was fast-paced and fun, I had no time to hold back, and I remember being frighteningly fearless. It was stressful but then again, when is life not stressful? It was challenging, but when I overcame those challenges, and I look back on all the work I did, all that I achieved in that short period of time, I felt a strong sense of pride and satisfaction.

The fast-paced nature of FAD+ is really a taster of how intense uni life and beyond will be, so finding how to work fast and just go for it was very helpful. You have your idea, so just execute it. Do not overthink and hold back.

What words of advice would you give to a student studying for a Foundation Plus Diploma in Art and Design?

Just go at 100%. Don't overthink. Just do. The course is a place you can just experiment and go crazy. You have your tutors there to support you, they may look scary, but they are actually really nice. Go crazy and just...create. Nothing is stupid when you are doing FAD+. If you have a little voice in your head telling you that idea is stupid, tell it to shut up and just do that idea anyway. Surprise yourself!

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