graduation exhibition
Title: archive of my exhibition for National Diploma of Art and Design
Location: ESAAA, in Annecy, France
Year: 2021
In this space, I chose to bring together fragments of archipelagos to create narratives. Upon entering the exhibition, visitors are invited to don headphones and immerse themselves in an edited recording: It begins with the sound of my mother's voice and the hiss of a rice cooker in the background. She shares her culinary secrets; these aromas have become my nostalgic cues. Our conversation weaves through the countries she has lived in, her languages, and those of our ancestors, exploring questions of transmission and heritage.
A part of her tale is threaded through an edition I wrote for the DNA titled 'Les Paumé.e.s,' which, among other topics, explores the sensation of being lost.
Displayed among these pieces are various works, and on a table rest two books in quiet dialogue: 'Je dors, Je travaille' by Hélène Bertin, about the work and life of Valentine Schlegel, and 'La Discrétion' by Faïza Guène. Both serve as references and inspirations, resonating through their artistic expressions and stances.
In the calligraphy depicted in the picture beside, something is written that translates to: 'My mother's accent is beautiful.' This phrase echoes a sentiment shared by many children of immigrants, yet it also bears a deeply personal shade, unique to my mother's native language. The French translation, 'Il est beau l’accent de ma mère,' is deliberately childlike, reflecting my ongoing journey to grasp Taiwanese Mandarin—a language I still struggle to speak and write, forming part of my maternal cultural heritage. I am on a journey to sift through, embrace, and reclaim it, moving beyond the shame I once felt. This visceral necessity gradually finds its way into my work by intertwining my personal story with reflections and forging connections with societal issues.
Linking the fragments of my archipelagos happens through learning sinograms and listening attentively. It's about discovering meaning in these forms, understanding the story behind each one, and unraveling the narrative they create together. This process unfolds through diverse typologies of languages, including those of words, images, shapes, sounds, and gestures.