My artistic practice is inescapably purgative, documenting continual narratives of personal change and evolution.
Gravity of Thought is an endeavour to build a new foundation from cultural, philosophical, and emotional groundwork. This body of work was borne out of a necessity to acknowledge my ancestral heritage while confronting the pressures and conflicts of second-generation guilt. The ability to take pride (and seek empowerment) from my ancestral culture has been at the fore- front of these explorations. The show is anchored in talismans of my Taiwanese heritage, constructed to provide a weighted base in the face of adversity. It is an attempt to find stillness and poise while balancing on the precipice.
The exhibition is split in two, presenting a duality of works on paper and rendered sculptures.
The works on paper depict Qing Dynasty Chinese scriptures, painted in enamel. The characters are words and phrases gifted to me by my elders or found through research, which have given me energy in times of hardship;
Equable / Inaudible / Subtle.
The state of vacancy — stillness guarded with unwearying vigour.
Gravity is the root of lightness / stillness, the ruler of movement.
Foundation of dignity.
Seeking tranquility.
To have an intricate side.
To have a strict and self restrained side.
To have a prudent and apprehensive side.
To have a resolute and unyielding side.
To not sway easily upon influence.
These works establish a reverent, if not ephemeral, foundation, from which I am able to draw strength and certainty.
The large sculptural works act as abstracted self-portraits, acknowledging and harnessing the facets of a pluralistic identity, both culturally and personally. In contrast to the delicate works on paper, they are repeatedly rendered in layers, asserting their physical weight and permanence.
To recognise myself — so I am.
