Ling U

I have a long story with Visual Studies, and I have a deep affinity and appreciation for it, as I spent my undergraduate and MPhil years here. I was extremely fortunate to attend VS, to acquire a diverse arts curriculum, to obtain experience in the arts industry, to learn how to conduct research, and to discover my passion and spark.

VS has given me the opportunity to continue exploring my interests as an undergraduate. Being a cinephile, I chose to study at VS and concentrated in film studies. VS's comprehensive film program equipped me with the knowledge to appreciate film. Also, I intend to become a filmmaker. VS gave me a chance to experiment with feature films and documentaries under the supervision of industry professionals. The director, Mr. Adam Wong, recommended the short films I made during the practical course to participate in Dawan District Art Biennale. In doing so, the courses in film theory and other disciplines such as art history and aesthetics broadened my horizons and allowed me to consider questions in film practice from a theoretical standpoint. As a result, I began investigating the possibility of pursuing a career in film studies.

In addition, VS provided me with numerous possibilities for investigating other fields. For instance, I participated in the Art Wall activity as a student curator and hosted the opening ceremony. This laid the groundwork for me to curate an exhibition on Hong Kong martial arts cinema in the Qian Xuesen Library & Museum during my internship in Shanghai and to speak on behalf of all the curators that reported on the Shanghai Daily News. As part of the VS Film Festival program, I was able to assist with the organization of the Taiwan International Documentary Film Festival (Hong Kong station), which prepared me for an internship at the CineCina Film Festival. Thanks to my exchange program at the University of Mannheim in Germany and the Baden-Württemberg Scholarship, I was able to visit numerous museums in Europe, thereby expanding my understanding of European art and art history.

I chose to continue my studies in gallery film and contemporary art as an MPhil student at VS after completing my undergraduate degree. Throughout the two years, my two supervisors were extraordinarily helpful in expanding my film studies into a broader multidisciplinary context (combined with contemporary art and media studies). Through regular reading, writing, and revision, as well as talks with professors and artists, I increased my knowledge and, more importantly, acquired research methods and gained research experiences. Without the support and instruction of my supervisors, I would not have been able to finish my research. By assisting and participating in international conferences, symposia, and gallery talks as well as serving as a teaching assistant for several courses, I also obtained academic experience and organizational skills. After graduation, I hope to pursue a PhD degree.

The professors and staff at VS always do their best to help students in a variety of ways. In addition to gaining knowledge and experience, I had a sense of humanistic care. I shall be eternally thankful for my six years in VS!