I love Annie Yu’s Curbside Treasure’s approach to storytelling: she tells them purely through visual means using collages, which are an ideal medium due to their eclectic nature. I’m not sure if it was her intention, but it is this very randomness that converts her storytelling from a passive experience for the viewer to an interactive one: in short, her pieces compel our own imaginations to fill in the blanks.

Annie leads us in with just enough information to pique our curiosity; for example, “The girl writes unsent letters each month to her mother”. I therefore find myself asking questions as I examine her pieces; questions, such as: “What is that a map of?” “What was written in that letter?” “What’s behind those windows?” Inevitably I begin to formulate my own theories, and I realize that I have become a part of the artwork itself.

It definitely helps that Annie’s pieces are also beautiful; she has an excellent ability to coordinate colors and shapes in such a way that her collages are both varied yet avoid being cluttered. There’s just enough to satisfy the senses without overwhelming, which definitely shows a deft touch in my mind. If you’d like to see more of Annie’s pieces, please visit her shop, Curbside Treasure!