2017
Medium: Vinyl, laser cut mirror surface stainless steel, etched stainless steel
Katzman Gallery – kontort project space installationDimension: dimensions variable
The willow tree represents strength and stability; its structure and trunk stands firm to withstand the greatest of challenges. Its branches are flexible and strong; they bend without breaking. The willow tree gives us a sense of belonging, safety, hope, and healing. In traditional visual depictions of the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin, she is often shown seated on a rock with a willow branch in a vase of water at her side. It is believed that the willow branch has the power to ward off evil spirits.
The cicada is an insect thought to live only on wind and rain drops; it symbolizes the simple life and an incorruptible personality in ancient Chinese literature. Since it lives underground for years before shedding its skin, the cicada is considered a magical creature, and it is believed that it can connect the three realms of heaven, earth, and humanity; it is regarded as a symbol of rebirth and immortality.
The figures I created here are wearing the cicada wings and resemble the western fairies. These hybrid ethereal creatures or sprites are scattered around the willow tree branches and constructing an mythological atmosphere.