Unreal Vanitas

This personal environment piece reimagines the classical Vanitas style through a modern lens, presenting a still-life scene of a contemporary desk that serves as a self-portrait. Each object within the composition was thoughtfully selected to reflect aspects of my identity and interests.

All props were modeled in Maya and imported into Unreal Engine, where I crafted a cinematic camera animation with a gradual push-in on the framed photograph—a quiet narrative moment that invites introspection. A key visual element is the warm desk lamp, whose glow intentionally guides the viewer’s attention toward the record player and custom-designed vinyl. The record label was created in Photoshop and draws direct inspiration from Willow Smith's album Lately I Feel Everything, adding a personal and cultural layer to the scene.

Lighting played a central role in reinforcing the emotional tone of the composition, balancing realism with stylization to create a contemplative, intimate atmosphere.

This project was completed over the course of approximately 40 hours and was selected for exhibition at UCF Celebrates the Arts at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando. As a juried showcase with a 40% acceptance rate, the selection is a meaningful acknowledgment of the work's conceptual and technical execution.