Running Away – Frank Zhou
Running Away
Frank Zhou
Frank Zhou is a senior at Vanderbilt University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Studio Art and Neuroscience. In 2022, he had his first show, exhibiting his charcoal work at the Vanderbilt Undergraduate (VU) Student Gallery Exhibition. Since then, he has been recognized as a finalist in the 2023 Camelback Gallery Flower Power exhibition, earning an online publication. He also participated in the 2023 VU Logo Design competition, finishing as the runner-up. His artwork has also been featured at the 2023 VU Arts Showcase and the 2024 edition of the Vanderbilt Review. In 2024, he studied graphic design and watercolor at the University of Copenhagen and DIS Copenhagen, creating work for Explore Copenhagen and exploring Scandinavian media. Outside of the studio, he is passionate about bridging art and medicine, volunteering his time to give art lessons to elderly individuals at Cai Hong Senior in Duluth, GA. His upcoming exhibition will be in Nashville, TN, at the Margaret Stonewall Wooldridge Hamblet Thesis Exhibition, and will portray his animation work, Running Away.
About the animation:
In my animation work, Running Away, I explore the psychological and emotional experience of struggling with mental health, particularly depression, and the overwhelming desire to escape from it. The animation depicts a running figure—an endless, looping sequence where movement represents both an act of resistance and an entrapment. The piece is projected onto a wide projection screen, reinforcing the
idea of repetition and inescapability. By using a hand-drawn, frame-by-frame animation, I hope to explore the quiet tension between fear and resilience, between emotional flight and stillness. The looping animation echoes how depression can feel cyclical, inescapable, and isolating. In addition to the animation, I plan to display each frame on the wall, highlighting the vulnerability captured in each pose. While the projection emphasizes movement and the cyclical nature of mental struggle, the individual frames offer the viewers a chance to slow down, to observe and feel each haunting moment suspended in time.
Through double-majoring in neuroscience and art at Vanderbilt University, I’ve come to explore the ways in which mental health is intertwined with art. Working with patients at Vanderbilt Medical Center has shown me the importance of empathetic listening and the healing potential of nonverbal communication. I’ve also seen the importance of using art as an outlet for mental struggles, especially during recovery. Through my work, investigate how visual art can actually externalize our inner thoughts and emotions, such as nostalgia, depression, perseverance, and struggle. I am fascinated by the emotions that come with everyday life—the quiet, shared experiences that shape who we are. Through the interplay of image, motion, and narrative, I aim to create work that invites reflection and creates a shared space for the human experience.
The work:
