Based on my continuing travels between Australia and China as an international student, I investigated whether a person's sense of belonging comes from their cultural background where they grew up or from where they live at present.  

This series of works explore factors which can help people to build a sense of security in a place. My motivation was the concept of protection and I have used the pistachio nut as a symbolic starting point, one that 'threads' this series together.

The pistachio nut has two hard shells with a gap in between. They wrap around to protect the core without completely enclosing it. The composition of the shells allows the light to get in. When gently peeling off the shell, a rich heart is revealed.  

The contrast between the shell and the inner core stirs ideas for me and I find symbolism in opposing states: emptiness and filling; contradiction and reconciliation; extrovert and introvert; breathing in and out. Therefore, I show the core and its protection in my practice by combining translucent and opaque materials using traditional and contemporary techniques. I divide the process of security and protection into six components – wrapping (comforting); embracing (self-accepting); breathing (adjusting); tendency (growing); breaking the cocoon (breaking self-barrier); and finally rebirth (creation) – and the order of each work feeds the next.  
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Tendency, 2021

925 silver, crystal, resin

24.4 x 42.2 x 14 mm

The Cocoon, 2021

gold-plated wire, chiffon, pistachio nutshell

40 x 40 x 1300 mm ‍

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Embrace, 2021

925 silver, crystal

25.5 x 16.1 x 21.8 mm ‍

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Newborn, 2021

resin

22 x 24 x 9 mm (individual ring)

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Breathing, 2021

brass, resin

60 x 45 x 6.4 mm (pendant)

24.2 x 7.1 x 640 mm (chain) ‍

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Ice Compress, 2021

brass, resin

32 x 30 x 37.2 mm

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Just like this, being wrapped in something, 2021  

video

duration: 03.30