2021
Objects
(a series of eight)
Materials: Copper, Hollow walnuts
Dimensions of each object: 10″ x 8″ x 7″
Photo credit: Rebekah Alviani
Photo credit: Michael Arrigo
Performance
single channel HD video
6:58 minutes
Installation
five channel video installation
Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery, Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, Ohio
2022
single channel video installation
Portland Center of Arts Place
Portland, Indiana
2021
Statement
Living in a modern civilization, we present our identity to the world through the roles that we play and the personas that we choose. Eventually, the self is formed by internalizing all these personas shaped by our life experience.
The word persona originally referred to a theatrical mask in Latin. This series of artwork consists of eight masks. Each mask is copper-electroformed over hand-carved molds. Given the highly random factors from the electroforming process, the surface texture and density of each mask vary widely, even though they were all created from nearly identical molds which were eventually removed after forming. This process metaphorically translates into the journey of the self being transformed and shaped along with its experiences imposed externally. Each mask has a single piercing, with a partially chewed-through hollow walnut set in it. The symbolism of the walnuts is reviewed through the same process described above— except it’s done by nature, and the metamorphosis is accomplished by subtraction instead of growth.
Based on the narrative of the performance-based video, in a black void, the performer encounters in total seven personas, all with identical body, wearing a mask with a single piercing, repeating a single motion while consciously holding the mask on their face. According to ancient Taoism, human identity is represented by the seven openings on a man’s face, allowing one to see, hear, smell, and eat. Here for each persona, each single opening serves as a partial human identity.
Awards
Bloch-Heskett Annual Award, BGSU School of Art, 2022
Ed Honton Memorial Award, Ohio Designer Craftsmen, 2022
Beverly Seley Award, Michigan Silversmiths Guild, 2022
Honorable Mentioned, Spolp Design, 2022
Best in 3D, Portland Center of Arts Place, 2021