静默的呼吸 (Governed Breaths), 2024

Installation Art

Balloon, Airpumps, Acrylic, Arduino, Wood

Governed Breath stands as not only the initial concept for this exhibition but also its focal point. This work is intricately constructed, featuring a robust wooden box foundation, which serves as a stark contrast to the delicate architecture above. Crowning this foundation is a crystal-clear acrylic dome, an embodiment of both visibility and barrier. Encased within this transparent yet confining dome is a solitary balloon. This balloon, ever in motion, engages in a rhythmic dance of expansion and contraction. Its movements are evocative of gentle breathing, symbolizing the essence of life and flow of a living being.

The balloon, vibrant and dynamic, represents an organic entity, almost creature-like in its behavior. Its movement within the dome is a powerful juxtaposition against the rigid and unyielding structure that encapsulates it. The dome, while transparent and seemingly inconspicuous, is a potent symbol of an established, overarching system. It presents an illusion of openness and freedom, yet it exerts an unspoken control over the balloon, dictating the limits of its movements and existence.

This interplay between the balloon and the dome is a poignant metaphor for the nuanced and often power dynamics at play between individuals and the state, especially resonant in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in China. The artwork reflects the unpredictable shifts in autonomy and control experienced during this time, mirroring the political climate and the state's influence over its people. Moreover, it also seeks to capture the artist's personal turmoil experienced under such a power dynamic. 'The Big Dome' thus stands as a multifaceted symbol, a confluence of political commentary and personal expression, encapsulating a moment in history through the lens of artistic interpretation.