Oh! In CHAINS

Oh! In CHAINS evolves from two primary technical concepts: projection and superimposition. While either concept plays a major role in the development independently, they are supposed to reflect each other. For example, although the work appears to consist a video within another video, this redundancy actually represents a method of layering and duplication through a physical space. I choose to present this work in such a way because I want use light as a medium. When the digital projector shines a beam of light onto the wall surface inside this white cube space, the way in which images emerges reminds me of the development of analog photo prints in the darkroom. In particular, although light interacts with the mechanisms of these devices differently, similar to digital projection, when the enlarger shines a beam of light through the negative and its inner mechanisms, an image is recorded on the light-sensitive surface of the paper as light serves as a medium. Furthermore, not only am I trying to explore the materiality of digital projection, but I am also trying to play with the concept of "projecting" a personal work onto a plain space, and then to create new meanings to the work. As a result, this video-within-video approach is not a documentation; instead, this work should be view as both a conceptual and aesthetic coherence. Through the mean of the projection, I am also experimenting with the conceptual meanings of the outside and the inside. Particularly, while the work suggests an existence outside the video shown on the wall, at the same time, the content that is shown is still contained inside a two-dimensional illusion. This creative process raises questions such as the followings: what is the inside and what is outside? What is real and what is virtual? At last, what is an original and what is a duplicate?

With regards to the work that is projected, this component is inspired by my exploration of personal identities. Through superimposing layers of time-based footages which mimic still images, I attempt to create a hybrid quality, because I believe layering is a way to capture the complex nature of our identities when hybridity serves as a visual reflection of such identities. Specifically, the clothing, facial make-up, and visual style are inspired by traditional Han Chinese culture, yet the background was recorded in Ontario, Canada. As a Chinese-born who has resided in Canada for nearly a decade, I am able to receive education in and be exposed to two distinct cultures; therefore, this juxtaposition and superimposition of contrasting elements is my way to express both a sense of conflict and a sense of belonging which I have experienced. However, I believe this contrast will diminish over time because it is only in our mind. As we are often influenced by stereotypes, we sometimes neglect the essence of our identities that are complicated, fluid, yet somehow being simplified, constrained, and "in chains".