Shin Project
The current state of the world with the pandemic has deepened my desire to examine the pre-existing values. Through the Shin Project, I started to explore the idea of our beliefs, which I always had concerned growing up; why we believe what we believe, how psychology and visual impression/expression are related, and how our narrative beliefs are affecting everything we do.
"Shin" can be written in various Chinese characters (in Japanese Kanji) meaning 信 belief, 真 truth, 神 God, 心 heart, 新 new, 芯 core, and more.
"Shin" can be written in various Chinese characters (in Japanese Kanji) meaning 信 belief, 真 truth, 神 God, 心 heart, 新 new, 芯 core, and more.
Tree, Temple, and My Scarf
2022
Material:Steel and dyed fabric using plants from the Garden
At Two Coves Community Garden, the largest Green Thumb Garden in NYC, I did a natural dye workshop using plants from the garden; printing them onto the fabrics by pounding with hammers and painting with natural paints I made. 30 participants created 50 scarfs, and I sewed them together. The one long scarf is wrapped around the Cherry tree and the pyramid structure.
Historically the shape of a pyramid symbolized the meanings of life and death, heaven and earth, and the human body. Besides its function as tombs or temples meaning to express power and holiness, the practicality of the pyramid shape in architecture is essential to the human habitat. The tradition of wrapping the tree with fabrics is found in Asian countries like Japan, Thai, and India. It comes from the Buddhist belief that trees are sacred to be worshiped. This idea was also used by Buddhist monks in Thai to protest deforestation and pollution in 80’-90’; they wrapped their orange monk scarves on many trees and actually stopped the construction. By connecting the metal pyramid to the tree with fabrics providing a space to contemplate or meditate, I like to create dialogues about humans and nature, the spiritual and mundane world, and industrial and ecological structure.
This project is made possible by Queens Arts Fund New Work Grant of the Queens Council on the Arts with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.
Material:Steel and dyed fabric using plants from the Garden
At Two Coves Community Garden, the largest Green Thumb Garden in NYC, I did a natural dye workshop using plants from the garden; printing them onto the fabrics by pounding with hammers and painting with natural paints I made. 30 participants created 50 scarfs, and I sewed them together. The one long scarf is wrapped around the Cherry tree and the pyramid structure.
Historically the shape of a pyramid symbolized the meanings of life and death, heaven and earth, and the human body. Besides its function as tombs or temples meaning to express power and holiness, the practicality of the pyramid shape in architecture is essential to the human habitat. The tradition of wrapping the tree with fabrics is found in Asian countries like Japan, Thai, and India. It comes from the Buddhist belief that trees are sacred to be worshiped. This idea was also used by Buddhist monks in Thai to protest deforestation and pollution in 80’-90’; they wrapped their orange monk scarves on many trees and actually stopped the construction. By connecting the metal pyramid to the tree with fabrics providing a space to contemplate or meditate, I like to create dialogues about humans and nature, the spiritual and mundane world, and industrial and ecological structure.
This project is made possible by Queens Arts Fund New Work Grant of the Queens Council on the Arts with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.
Symbols
2021
Size: H 37" W 44" D 4"
Material: Steel, stainless steel, brass, bronze
Size: H 37" W 44" D 4"
Material: Steel, stainless steel, brass, bronze
Wish Daily
2021
Size: H 84" W 48" L 32"
Material: Steel, various commercial products
"Wish Daily" takes the forms from Shintoism and familiar commercial products. Visitors are invited to write their wishes about themselves and others, then hang it on the sculpture. Through this project, I question what's the difference between the individual and communal wishes, and also wishes made in sacred and domestic spaces.
TEXT on paper:
You might wish for something everyday: write it down to visualize, verbalize, and realize it.
Make a wish for yourself:
Make a wish for others:
Size: H 84" W 48" L 32"
Material: Steel, various commercial products
"Wish Daily" takes the forms from Shintoism and familiar commercial products. Visitors are invited to write their wishes about themselves and others, then hang it on the sculpture. Through this project, I question what's the difference between the individual and communal wishes, and also wishes made in sacred and domestic spaces.
TEXT on paper:
You might wish for something everyday: write it down to visualize, verbalize, and realize it.
Make a wish for yourself:
Make a wish for others:
Lucky Charms / Omamori
2021
Size variable installation, Mixed Media
They are made with both mass-produced products and craftsmanship. The work explores the universal act of wishing through observing various designs and forms which meant to bring "protection" or "prosperity" across the cultures: I merged the contrast between the merchandized inexpensive "lucky charms" and traditional wish making by "handmade".
Size variable installation, Mixed Media
They are made with both mass-produced products and craftsmanship. The work explores the universal act of wishing through observing various designs and forms which meant to bring "protection" or "prosperity" across the cultures: I merged the contrast between the merchandized inexpensive "lucky charms" and traditional wish making by "handmade".
Omamori
Size: H 12" W 15" D 1.5" each
Material: fabric, wood, paper, gauche
Year: 2020
It is inspired by a type of Japanese religious lucky charm called “Omamori”, which are commonly sold in Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. I grew up being told that Omamori contains a holy prayer that brings good luck and if opened, it will lose its protective power. I had never opened it until I started this project. After seeing inside of Omamori as a first time, I questioned what I had been believing even more. I enclosed an object in my Omamori to not to be open or to be.
I embroidered symbols indicating dual reality or hidden connections that highlight the irony and controversy inherent in society.Using both sides of the same fabric as a pair also reflects the inextricably linked objects, facts, or hypotheses.
What we believe forms our perceptions and actions. What one believes now might be different from yesterday.
Size: H 12" W 15" D 1.5" each
Material: fabric, wood, paper, gauche
Year: 2020
It is inspired by a type of Japanese religious lucky charm called “Omamori”, which are commonly sold in Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. I grew up being told that Omamori contains a holy prayer that brings good luck and if opened, it will lose its protective power. I had never opened it until I started this project. After seeing inside of Omamori as a first time, I questioned what I had been believing even more. I enclosed an object in my Omamori to not to be open or to be.
I embroidered symbols indicating dual reality or hidden connections that highlight the irony and controversy inherent in society.Using both sides of the same fabric as a pair also reflects the inextricably linked objects, facts, or hypotheses.
What we believe forms our perceptions and actions. What one believes now might be different from yesterday.
"Charm for Health"
I embroidered two health logos which are widely used in America: Left is the rod of Asclepius (a deity of medicine), right is the caduceus (symbol of Hermes who is a deity of merchants). The modern use of the caduceus as a symbol of medicine became established in the United States in the late 19th as a result of documented mistakes, misunderstandings, and confusion.
"Charm for Prosperity"
I embroidered symbol of dollar and yin and yang. They coincidentally share S shape and a vertical junction, however, it might be not coincident that the yin and yang philosophy is frequently linked to business and money-making.
"Charm for Wealth"
I embroidered the symbol of the bank, and the Chinese character "金" meaning money. Their shapes coincidentally share triangular and vertical lines, however, it might not be coincident that banks play key roles in the modern monetary system.
"Charm for Protection"
I embroidered the symbol of the Japanese Kagome basket pattern and the Hexagram star symbol. Those star symbols are used in various religions and cultures from the ancient time. Coincidently, they share the meaning of protection sometimes. Kagome pettern originated from the eye shape, which was to scare the bad sprit away.
I embroidered two health logos which are widely used in America: Left is the rod of Asclepius (a deity of medicine), right is the caduceus (symbol of Hermes who is a deity of merchants). The modern use of the caduceus as a symbol of medicine became established in the United States in the late 19th as a result of documented mistakes, misunderstandings, and confusion.
"Charm for Prosperity"
I embroidered symbol of dollar and yin and yang. They coincidentally share S shape and a vertical junction, however, it might be not coincident that the yin and yang philosophy is frequently linked to business and money-making.
"Charm for Wealth"
I embroidered the symbol of the bank, and the Chinese character "金" meaning money. Their shapes coincidentally share triangular and vertical lines, however, it might not be coincident that banks play key roles in the modern monetary system.
"Charm for Protection"
I embroidered the symbol of the Japanese Kagome basket pattern and the Hexagram star symbol. Those star symbols are used in various religions and cultures from the ancient time. Coincidently, they share the meaning of protection sometimes. Kagome pettern originated from the eye shape, which was to scare the bad sprit away.