Sprout
Pen, Chinese ink on paper, Origami, Chopstick, Thread
22 × 22 cm
This story captures the moment of change. Each character embodies their uniqueness; while one has a basic shape, the others have different attributes. This contrast emphasizes the differences between others and myself. This wordless picture book encourages audiences to interact with my story and the main character of the book. The sprout that appears at the end represents the exposition of the growing uniqueness, and now my story begins.
4-Leaf Clovers
Welding, Black paper, Fishing wire
360 × 360 × 180 cm
The living-size characters are placed in circles allowing the audience to situate themselves in the scene from "Sprout." The characters around the circle are composed of one letter from the word - GOODLUCK, and the middle figure has each cut-out piece in the positive. This contrast embodies how one receives encouragement from others through the cut-out pieces spread around the space.
Rain
Clay, Fishing wire, Wooden board
120 × 40 × 120 cm
This installation is composed of the letters GOOD LUCK/がんばれ. The large size confronts above the eye level, allowing the experience of rain on the audience’s growth. Two different juxtapositions of letters, placed irregularly and in line, embody how they naturally come to create the phrase, GOODLUCK. Just like how rain helps plants to growth, the letters expand and spread around the space, watering our potential.
Chapter 4: Drought
Clay
92 × 102 × 102 cm
Inspired by Martha Rieger’s installation work, I created irregular ceramic fragments to represent the conflict within the relationship. This work explores the climax of the story and encounters the negative aspects of relationships, such as peer pressure and a decrease in self-worth. The white and mix-glazed colored ceramic pieces are placed in a flow from the wall to the floor, emphasizing the transition from a pure to a complex relationship. Contrary to rectangular pieces, the fragments externalize the aggravated mental status and resist accepting others, distracting my growth just as the ground turns drought.
Chapter 5: Caged Cotton fabric, Thread, Steel wire, Thermocol, Acrylic boxes, Acrylic paint on wood boards 75 × 16 × 85 cm
The acrylic boxes symbolize the invisible barriers created by conflicts from the climax. Inside the boxes, the dolls are caged, and each represents the emotional reactions and the ways to deal with the situations. At times, they are anxious; at other times, they are desperately trying to escape… then weeping and exhausted. The background colors are extracted from “Drought” to convey the shared ideas within the works. The work expounds on the idea of the inseparable relationship between challenges and growth.
Chapter 6: Cycle
Animation
47 seconds
The animation depicts the cycle of nine different movements from “Caged.” The abstract character is composed of white geometric shapes, allowing the audience to identify themselves with it. The character walks into the frame, goes out of the frame, and comes back. This looping animation underlines the endlessness of challenges and resilience.
Chapter 7: Blossom
Cotton fabric, Thermocol, Red thread, Red ribbon, Red cotton twisted cord, Red woolen yarn, Thread beads, Dye inks
60 × 60 × 165 cm
Taking hints from the Red Thread of Fate, the belief that the red thread connects predestinated mates, I used it to embody the connection between people. The living-sized body externalizes myself. The thread ties two beads and is tangled around the body. Some are loose, and some are thick. The tone of colors had changed from low-saturated to vivid, turning the conflicts into achievements and symbolizing the idea that overcoming challenges makes one grow the most.
Chapter 8: Jangle
Acrylic paint on canvas, Clay, Cotton fabric, Beads
92 × 75 cm
The character is sitting in an elegant chair facing the front, contrasting with “Sprout,” emphasizing the growth. The background is embellished with trees and flowers, symbolizing the successful growth of sprout. Just like a jangle, the mixed-media painting is composed of several elements shared in all works (such as the basic shaped characters, threads, colors, plants, and GOOD LUCK) to synthesize my story, concluding with growing my uniqueness with the influence of the relationship.
The end.
