自如 ZiRu
(At Ease)
——a series of fabric-based paintings temporarily installed at the Italian Pavilion, Shanghai Expo Center
Picture shows the artist conversing with an interviewer online through a robot
Using publicly available fabrics collected from across China as the base, I draw inspiration from the traces of human life, weaving together brushstrokes and stitches to tell a personal legend. The legend’s protagonist, known only as “Someone,” has their life story, inner journey, and living imprints recorded within the work. In the legend, Someone is born at the right moment — diligent and brave, eager to learn and to fight, yearning for love and fortune, rising and falling with ease and acceptance. One day, awakening from a dream, Someone realizes that their deepest lifelong desire is simply to dwell fully in the present moment, to feel it profoundly. The pursuit and understanding of the phrase “At Ease” (自如) thus become the key to all of Someone’s stories.
Using publicly available fabrics collected from across China as the base, I draw inspiration from the traces of human life, weaving together brushstrokes and stitches to tell a personal legend. The legend’s protagonist, known only as “Someone,” has their life story, inner journey, and living imprints recorded within the work. In the legend, Someone is born at the right moment — diligent and brave, eager to learn and to fight, yearning for love and fortune, rising and falling with ease and acceptance. One day, awakening from a dream, Someone realizes that their deepest lifelong desire is simply to dwell fully in the present moment, to feel it profoundly. The pursuit and understanding of the phrase “At Ease” (自如) thus become the key to all of Someone’s stories.
我使用遍布全国的公版布料为底板，以“人类的生活痕迹”为灵感，用笔触和针线串联起一段个人传说。传说的主人公名曰“某人”，其生平细节，心路历程及生活痕迹均在此作品中得以撰述。在传说中，某人生逢其时，勤奋勇敢，好学好斗，求爱求财，浮浮沉沉，坦坦然然。一日梦醒之时，某人忽然有感：自己穷极一生的最大渴望，不过永驻当下，深深体验此刻。对“自如”二字的追求和感受，从此成为某人一切故事的注解。
我使用遍布全国的公版布料为底板，以“人类的生活痕迹”为灵感，用笔触和针线串联起一段个人传说。传说的主人公名曰“某人”，其生平细节，心路历程及生活痕迹均在此作品中得以撰述。在传说中，某人生逢其时，勤奋勇敢，好学好斗，求爱求财，浮浮沉沉，坦坦然然。一日梦醒之时，某人忽然有感：自己穷极一生的最大渴望，不过永驻当下，深深体验此刻。对“自如”二字的追求和感受，从此成为某人一切故事的注解。
Using publicly available fabrics collected from across China as the base, I draw inspiration from the traces of human life, weaving together brushstrokes and stitches to tell a personal legend. The legend’s protagonist, known only as “Someone,” has their life story, inner journey, and living imprints recorded within the work. In the legend, Someone is born at the right moment — diligent and brave, eager to learn and to fight, yearning for love and fortune, rising and falling with ease and acceptance. One day, awakening from a dream, Someone realizes that their deepest lifelong desire is simply to dwell fully in the present moment, to feel it profoundly. The pursuit and understanding of the phrase “At Ease” (自如) thus become the key to all of Someone’s stories.
Using publicly available fabrics collected from across China as the base, I draw inspiration from the traces of human life, weaving together brushstrokes and stitches to tell a personal legend. The legend’s protagonist, known only as “Someone,” has their life story, inner journey, and living imprints recorded within the work. In the legend, Someone is born at the right moment — diligent and brave, eager to learn and to fight, yearning for love and fortune, rising and falling with ease and acceptance. One day, awakening from a dream, Someone realizes that their deepest lifelong desire is simply to dwell fully in the present moment, to feel it profoundly. The pursuit and understanding of the phrase “At Ease” (自如) thus become the key to all of Someone’s stories.
