By Eric Zhao
The Robotics program at Collingwood has been very successfully in the past few years, advancing to Worlds Championships in many occasions and even winning the title back in 2014. Those accomplishments would not have been possible without the key member of the team throughout those competitions, Zach Yamaoka, the current captain. You might have recognized Zach on the big screen at robotics competitions, but if you look closely at the artworks exhibited at school art shows, you will discover that Zach is also an exceptional artist.
The Robotics program at Collingwood has been very successfully in the past few years, advancing to Worlds Championships in many occasions and even winning the title back in 2014. Those accomplishments would not have been possible without the key member of the team throughout those competitions, Zach Yamaoka, the current captain. You might have recognized Zach on the big screen at robotics competitions, but if you look closely at the artworks exhibited at school art shows, you will discover that Zach is also an exceptional artist.
Born in Canada, Zach comes from a very interesting family background. Zach’s father is third generation Japanese Canadian and his mother is German Mexican. Though you might expect Zach to be at least trilingual, he does not speak Japanese and understands a bit of German; however, he is in AP Spanish but does not speak it at home.
Besides arts, Zach is also a ‘foodie’, and especially has a passion for sushi, which is probably in his genes. Normally, Zach works as a line cook at Milestones and also does woodworking during his free time, which connects to his success in robotics. An interesting fact, Zach plays poker online occasionally and was even making a good amount of profit once upon a time though the profit did not last long. For music, Zachary is a man of classics; he listens to classical music, such as Bach cello suites and Nocturne No.2 in E Flat to calm his mind and seek inspiration. In addition, he is a fan of Spanish music and the Gypsy Kings.
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Yamaoka had started painting because of a lady who came to paint with him and his sisters every summer during his childhood. Zach’s mother also frequently bought canvases and paintings, leading to art slowly developing into an interest and passion for Zach. When it comes to the definition of art, Zach expressed, “Everything is art. It is just an expression of human conscience and human nature. It’s a feeling. It’s an emotion.” His favourite medium is mixed medium, for the reason that it allows multiple depths in painting and picture, creating more contrasts, vividness and conflict.
As for the future, Zach is going to study at Imperial College London, as a Design Engineer. According to Zach, art will continue to be a large component part of his life, in fact design engineering itself involves a lot of drawing, the perfect intersection of his interests in art and problems solving. We wish the best of luck to Zach next year in England!
As for the future, Zach is going to study at Imperial College London, as a Design Engineer. According to Zach, art will continue to be a large component part of his life, in fact design engineering itself involves a lot of drawing, the perfect intersection of his interests in art and problems solving. We wish the best of luck to Zach next year in England!
