This Was Natural
3:00, Video, 2024
collabotraed with Hanzhe Zhang, special thanks to Iliana Sun
This Was Natural is a video that captures an intimate encounter with manatees, using poetic narration and immersive underwater footage to reflect on the fragile relationship between humanity and nature. The work explores themes of vulnerability, boundaries, and belonging, offering a profound meditation on the raw and unfiltered experience of the natural world.
Evolving from a simple act of observation, the work becomes a contemplative exploration of reality, unearthing the tender yet disquieting emotions of proximity to the wild. By dissolving physical and emotional boundaries, This Was Natural invites viewers to confront their place within the larger ecological narrative, discovering the beauty and fragility of being human in a world that feels at once foreign and familiar.
Confluence
installation, 3.6in*11.8in*14.2in, 2024
This work is an installation that explores the connection between my inner world and the external world. Drawing from Western mysticism, angel numbers-such as 11:11 or 2:22-appear as recurring sequences in daily life. These numbers, often seen as messages from higher realms like gods, spirits, ancestors, or departed loved ones. For me, they represent a form of communication with my guardians. Five years ago, after making a verbal prayer, I began noticing these numbers more frequently, and each encounter became a moment of blessing and connection. While we all exist within the same dimension of time, by transforming these moments into art, they transcend individual memories and become part of a collective diary. It resonates with countless moments and exploring the interplay between personal experiences and collective consciousness.
Through this work, I aim to explore how personal symbols can intersect with collective experiences, and how seemingly mundane objects-like numbers-can hold profound significance.
Sacred Tree
installation, Dimensions variable, 2024
This work is an installation combined with a multilingual audio script being played in the space. Penglai is a concept in Chinese mythology that shares commonelements with different folktales in China and Japan. At the heart of this myth is the divine tree. However, concepts of eternity, growth, and connection with different worlds are ideas associated with trees across global cultures. These similarities suggest a common perspective among diverse cultures, even in ancient times.
Therefore, this work explores the magical intersections among various cultures, revealing multiple layers of meaning. It asks a compelling question: are the divine trees described in various cultures distinct beings, or do they originate from a single, ancient source? This convergence inspires us to consider that our connections might be greater than we think. More importantly, I view this work as a self- portrait, representing the various pieces of myself that I've gathered. Each piece reflects who I am.
Lotus Dancefloor
Photography, 984mm*738mm , 2022
This work is a series of photography and I try to reflect myself through this series of images. It is the first work I created in New York. For me, identity is not binary; it is an intuition and a sense of freedom. One night, I dreamt of dancing in a lotus-shaped dance floor. Coming to New York symbolizes growth and transformation. My consciousness and self-awareness are constantly being challenged and reshaped. By recreating images from my life, I re-understand myself.
Panacea
Video, 2: 22, 1920*1080 , 2021
This work is a video which explores societal attitudes and human behaviors when facing future challenges, reflecting on how people construct meaning and cope with uncertainty.
The film fictionalizes a Qigong ritual to create a cure and leaves an open ending with multiple interpretations. Did the ritual succeed, and who is truly healthy? By comparing historical and modern phenomena, I hope to illustrate the complex human reactions to uncertainty and prompt the audience to think about the deeper motivations behind these behaviors.
Awakening
Installation , 2022
This is an installation that incorporates projection mapping. Drawing inspiration from Gaia theory, which posits Earth as a self-regulating living organism, when facing challenges, Earth can mobilize all life forms and elements to overcome threats and restore optimal living conditions. This concept, which mirrors the interconnectedness and resilience found in cross-cultural perspectives on nature deeply intrigued me during my undergraduate studies in Water Science and Engineering. Despite human-induced environmental pollution, nature may evolve through these challenges, gaining greater adaptability. This installation simulates a future ecosystem capable of collectively responding to harsh environments. It challenges conventional views of environmental crises by highlighting the resilience of natural systems. The work underscores our deep interdependence with the environment and prompts reflection on how we coexist within this self-regulating system.