Marks of memory,
traces of feeling

Attachment · 執念

The attachments of lives to come, of lives passed, of what was and what is — when released, the true self becomes visible. The wounded, the aching, the angry — when we loosen our grip, freedom arrives.

Simply said, yet not easily done. Even after breathing the scent of the bianhua and drinking Meng Po's soup of forgetting, the imprints remain deeply etched, traveling with us into this life. Though the jade may shatter, even that is transformation and rebirth. Let the six-eared pan chang knot remind us — toward the union of mind and matter.

As Water · 上善若水

This artwork reflects on existence, time, and the search for clarity within chaos. A tranquil pond sits at the center, where fish move in harmony, suggesting the simultaneous flow of past, present, and future. The vivid colors and branching forms represent the diversity and interconnectedness of life, while the surrounding patterns evoke the complexity of thoughts, truth, illusion, and self-discovery.

Inspired by the idea of 上善若水 — that the highest good is like water — the piece invites viewers to return to stillness, clarity, and truth amid the ever-changing movement of life.

Present

This work explores the Buddhist concepts of emptiness and dependent arising, drawing inspiration from the Avatamsaka Sutra. The piece depicts a lion made of gold, symbolizing the illusory nature of our perceptions of the world around us, and illustrating the interdependence and interconnectedness of all phenomena.

The lion represents the essence of all things, pervading the ten directions and reaching throughout the Dharma Realm. Its lack of characteristics underscores the elusive nature of form, while its function — both present and non-existent in the Dharma Realm — emphasizes the profound interdependence of all things.

Through this piece, the viewer is encouraged to reflect on their own perceptions of reality and to consider the broader implications of emptiness and interdependence. By contemplating both sides of existence, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity and beauty of the world, and cultivate a greater sense of compassion and empathy for all beings.

The Hidden Secret in the Maze

To fully experience this project, viewers need a pair of red-filter decoder glasses to unveil the hidden information beneath the painting. Without them, only the uncoded message can be perceived. The work plays with treasure hunting and challenges superstitious and cultural aspects of Asian culture.

Four movable canvases can be adjusted to create different scenes within the artwork. The uncoded message is displayed on the right, and a hidden musical note — Carmina Burana by Carl Orff — is incorporated.

In Chinese, the text conveys the cultural expectations and the hopes of parents, which can sometimes limit our potential. We often relinquish our dreams, individuality, and inner passions, conforming to the expectations of others.

Grief & Bereavement

This work explores grief, memory, and the relationship between death and life. Using joss paper — a ritual material traditionally burned as an offering for the deceased — the piece creates a reflective space for mourning and remembrance.

Inside the mirror, the Chinese character 死 (death) transforms into 生 (life) when the work is turned upside down, inviting viewers to reconsider death not as an ending, but as a continuation through memory, love, and lasting presence.

The Uncanny

This artwork draws inspiration from Freud's concept of the uncanny. In my perspective, the human psyche is not limited to a singular ID but is composed of multiple facets. Each can be invoked — some representing repressed impulses concealed deep within our memories, spanning across different spaces and centuries.

The present moment is an amalgamation of all these timelines, collectively shaping our unique identity.

Destiny

This self-portrait explores the complex interplay between willpower and destiny. It delves into the dualities within us — Yin and Yang — which often give rise to contradictions and dilemmas in choice-making. There is also the notion of an invisible force shaping our lives. The question arises: do we have the agency to shape our own identity, or should we entrust it to fate?

In this particular instance, I chose to be both an active observer and a participant in my life — making deliberate choices while remaining open to where those choices may lead, all while keeping a clear sense of purpose.

Purity

This artwork fuses elements of Chinese traditional painting with surrealism. In Eastern culture, the lotus symbolizes purity, yet in this painting a woman is depicted half-naked and half-clad in a kimono, adorned with a leg tattoo, suggesting a more provocative stance. Butterflies symbolize liberation, while the face alludes to a facade or a mask. In Western culture, antlers are associated with the deer, revered as a holy creature.

The intent is to convey a sense of an anti-social psychological state — highlighting that individuals who appear pure and pristine on the surface may not necessarily hold the same sentiments within, akin to the enigmatic smile on the woman's face.