Awakening
in Affordable Art Fair in 2022
photo credit to Kieth Sin
This is the series about the dialogue of two hands.
One day during the pandemic, I was working on a mural while standing on scaffolding. A young man stood nearby, watching me quietly for quite some time. Eventually, he approached and told me he wished he could be like me. That moment led us into a deep conversation. He said,
“I feel useless, like a piece of rusty metal. I once dreamed of becoming a spray paint artist, but life is full of burdens. Do you think I can still carry my dream with me and continue my journey?”
This series of paintings is inspired by our conversations. I translated them into images of a dialogue between two hands.
Same Channel
I had hiked across mountains and valleys before I met a backpacker. He crawled through the mud and raised his hand, pointing at me. I mirrored his action, as if we were reflecting the same radio wave, and it felt like we were tuned into the same broadcast
Different Lens
The backpacker and I sat near the stream with his backpack resting on his knees. He said, 'I hate this heavy, old bag. I also hate my weak body. This bag makes it hard for me to breathe.' I suggested that he place his bag next to him, right in the stream, and then try to pick it up from the water. He replied, 'Oh! I like this bag now. It feels so light and cool. My bag looks beautiful and shiny with the sunlight gleaming through the water.
Accompany by eyes
To ensure he had a durable backpack, the backpacker decided to repair it himself. This was his first time fixing anything. I accompanied him to search for materials, and we managed to find a fishing net, some canvas, and a few wooden sticks. Now, we pause our journey every day from noon to 2:00 PM so my friend can work on his bag. During this time, I make him a cup of coffee, then sit a short distance away, keeping a watchful eye on his progress.
You are who you are
During my afternoon nap, I woke to see the backpacker sitting cross-legged near the stream. He raised his hands, palms facing the sky, his face glowing with a smile. I walked over quietly and clapped my hands softly. As the sound echoed in my ears, I felt a deep sense of pride in him. Yesterday, today, tomorrow—you are who you are.
