Making Waves

“Making Waves” is creating a statement that challenges viewers’ eyes and minds. In this show, I combine long hair (my identity) with nature (water, wind and Kansas prairie) to present 6 large charcoal drawings that reflect traditional skills and contemporary ideas.

I use disembodied long, black, straight hair to refer to my own identity as a Chinese woman, sister and mother, and at the same time to create something that is beyond hair. I adopt the composition and process from traditional Chinese fine style ink painting. These drawings are presented on scrolls to accentuate the length and the flow of hair. The ceiling to floor size creates a monumental scale and three-dimensional effect.

The detailed process is time consuming. Each finished image is built up through many layers of charcoal. The highlight and white background are carefully rendered and erased, creating a cohesive image of hair and other elements such as water or wind. The process is meditative, and it is about control of body and mind.