Artist Statement
I once saw a spider in the library, and I wanted to became it. Arachnids look intimidating to many people, but they are also so vulnerable to human beings. I’m so fascinated by this contrast. When I was performing the spider piece, I collapsed emotionally. It was more than I could handle in the end. I felt that, in that space, I was prominent but also invisible. I was surrounded by an audience but also isolated. As I crawled to viewers, they all stepped back to keep a distance from me. I only got the chance to touch someone’s foot. The floor was cold, and flesh and blood was warm. I wasn’t firmly attached to the sculpture I wore at the beginning of that performance, but, after a while, I realized that it was the only thing I had. It was my closest companion.
The experience with the beetle piece was really different. The horn became an extension of my body. I touched audience members with its sharp end, grazing a cheek, tapping shoulders, and pointing to a heart. I was surprised how people trusted me that I wouldn’t hurt them but only touch them gently. The beauty and tenderness of that trust and tension broke my heart. I attached and lost parts of myself on each spectator.
I touched the audience and also was touched by them at the same time. I was holding a mirror to things in front of me, but I wasn't aware that the mirror, also the reflection in the mirror, became part of my body. A kid playing with her shadows didn’t know that she was also manipulated by the shadow.
I touched the audience and also was touched by them at the same time. I was holding a mirror to things in front of me, but I wasn't aware that the mirror, also the reflection in the mirror, became part of my body. A kid playing with her shadows didn’t know that she was also manipulated by the shadow.
Spider
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/94a36fbb90a7647c653671bd76b0504e4c6e679ed05f370e025ad1977bc48365/Sadness.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a9020a26f85e432f3e48b1d28a97391776919057edc6c6e322a2b2edb3d5e410/Joy---Wujian-Collab-7-of-34.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/20db68cbb49c7c89cb414451aa379dbeba6b21aa280eb6bdc7c65d7cfb1eec96/Joy---Wujian-Collab-29-of-34.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e696a4d841d6424afb8ef5109ad049fece597943c5a7737fe0700595174cf89a/Joy---Wujian-Collab-23-of-34.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/482b9c7e4b882acb4041e197019b674031aaaf7ada776bc50c1f31baaff1bc16/Joy---Wujian-Collab-28-of-34.jpg)
Beetle
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/24075507fdfbe0c5d61adf5f3c942ce7000a569f4a8eca7d35ccc57e78e55572/WechatIMG246.jpeg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e3e6fc9ce9b1d3f7e207cc067f5ed0c52929838a7cbb30f808f7f4610a2bf9bc/WechatIMG247.jpeg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/813fbbd26c5e2613db72099cee3bf3c247a893126b00f46ecbd4f0573a3ced75/WechatIMG248.jpeg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/09eaf6f5350eaf01407ffda1a28da84c21470824a87f693efa1aeaebf7878c17/5.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2703532b3f5efd330e74ef92073d9122bb33a3c875797961f39f7a60ea8c685e/2.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e28ff977b2194e052bbafb73fc2e8247018ce661e947cca2e351cf26cb8fd632/1.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/026fec0bf1151654cf41dca511b3b2d561521631cbce6e4a9784b4b923bd60a4/WechatIMG250.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a20a91dbe2ef0279dcf68f94862c1ca9d79c8de0ff9edaa0d2ebbebc0cff9a97/4.jpg)