Dancing Table, 2023
Digital installation
Collaborated with Nier Zhang
As a child, I had a passion for arranging objects in my mom’s kitchen and creating imaginative shadow creatures by turning off the lights. My desire is to revive that creative and inspiring environment and rediscover my inner child. Dancing Table is an installation project that uses light sources to create the illusion of dancing shadows, rather than manipulating physical objects.
Our research on traditional Chinese shadow puppets revealed that the connection and disconnection of an object and its shadow can inspire re-imagination, storytelling, and entertainment. The relationship between objects and shadows is a potent source of creativity, as an object's shape can produce a unique shadow, and a shadow can transform the object's appearance. To explore this concept, we chose ordinary items like cups, fruits, and eggs, each with unique physical attributes like handles, brackets, or organic forms. Placing these objects on one side of a waste room table, we connected a small spotlight and coded motor positioned behind them. The result was a moving shadow of the objects on the opposite wall, creating an innovative art form. By adjusting the speed of the coded motor, we created different shadow effects, ranging from massive and bulky to soft and facile, or even a combination of both. The layered effect of crisp-to-blurred focus and the motion of the shadows was mesmerizing to observe.
Our project aims to rekindle creativity and inspiration using common everyday objects as a starting point. Connecting and disconnecting are essential for gaining inspiration and creating art. Connecting involves engaging with the world around us, whether it's through observation, listening, reading, or interacting with others. Disconnecting refers to taking a step back, disengaging from the world, and allowing ourselves to reflect, relax and recharge. Art is all around us, and by observing life, we can find art in everything. Dancing Table is a unique way to explore the relationship between objects and shadows, and we hope it inspires others to embrace their imagination and creativity.