This sculpture was originally called Cry, but I decided to change its name a few days ago when I read an article about the shocking earthquake in Sichuan, China, three years ago. May, 12th, 2008, Huanhuan Kindergarden collapsed completely in the 8.0 degree earthquake in Sichuan province; the disaster happened during the nap time and almost all the children were buried under the ruins. When the rescuing committee arrived, they heard a child crying, "Mom, it hurts!......" However, when they finally removed the heavy steel bar on top of this little boy, he had stopped breathing.
Looking back on the original white clay head before it got fired, I am quite surprised to see how it has turned out. My goal was to make the baby head look as realistic as possible; in addition to the skin color, I also put on a thin coat of a shiny metal color which made the skin look even better. Thank you, Gary, for showing me such an amazing color and a useful technique! :D
As the sculptor, I find it very hard for me to evaluate my own piece because I work on it everyday and see it develop gradually. There is nothing strikes me or surprise me when I see the final project because I have been staring at it for months. However, others do have interesting reactions. For example, one of my classmate told me after seeing my sculpture, "It's sick, and I love it!"
As soon as I began to make my first human head sculpture a year ago I realized that my sculptures would make a lot of people feel "sick", "uncomfortable". It's just the nature of human head sculptures. I always have this question in my head, "Is it OK to make people feel 'sick' about my sculpture?" My intention is to make something beautiful, not to scare people off.
Last week I visited the Cranbrook Art Museum and a pair of sculptures with the theme of Comfort caught my attention; especially the one with a woman licking and spiting green jelly seductively. Both sculptures are "sick" and provoke a strong sense of discomfort; yet I was unable to erase the images from my mind long after I saw them.
Discomfort lasts. Thinking back on my natural disaster memorial sculpture, Cry, I do not hesitate anymore; I decide to make it as sick and scary as possible in order to provide the discomfort which will make people think about the balance between human and the environment.
My next step will be creating a scene of ruins and put all the elements together: the baby face, the hand, the new shoot, the rocks, the grass, and the ruins. Now I have finished all the college applications and my plan is to finish the sculpture in 10 days after I go back to school.
