The Weight of Souls - Self-Portrait

Plaster, bronze powder, printable fabric, and resin
~28'' (H) x ~40'' (W) x ~15'' (D)
2020

The "21 Grams, the Weight of Souls - Self Portrait“ series examines what one loses while trying to fit into society. It is not something tangible but the essence that makes human beings HUMAN. The title is based on a scientific study published in 1907 by Duncan MacDougall. During his research, he found that a person's soul weighs 21 grams.

I challenge the viewers' experiences by the twisted female portrait and water dripping effect from the coated resin. The pair of hands wring the fabric was made from plaster - the material popularly used in building construction to represent our society. I cast my own hands from plaster to convey that I am part of the social pressure and allow the oppression to put on myself: I am my own biggest enemy.

With this platform, I hope to respond to the questions that are always hunting me: What makes humanity distorted? What is the American dream we believe in now?

————- Each title of the piece serves as one line of a poem ————-

She is deafened by the coaxing lies.

The shining hands also try to blind her eyes.

Her brain is pierced to make her comply.

All the curses make her lose her soul and mind. 

Splitting in half, violently they rive.

Removing her existence, they rip her while she is alive.

Gouging her in the eyes, she couldn’t defy.

Cutting her mouth off, she couldn’t even sigh.

I hear her scream when I walk by.

I catch her in the air when she falls from the sky. 

I lift her up to let her tears dry.

I wring her tears out while she asks why.

I let her rest in my palm so then she can go back to the fight. 

It is life.

To all the pain and hurt, we shall say goodbye.

In the end, everything will be ok and we will all be all right.