This work integrates Deleuze's philosophical concept of the "Body without Organs" to explore the de-functionalization and de-organicization of the female body through virtual furniture and 3D design. From the perspective of three generations of Chinese women, it reveals the collective memory and individual experiences of Chinese women across different historical periods.
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Coat rack
Chandelier
Table
Chinese knot
Sofa
wardrobe
dining table
electric fan
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Inspiration :
My mother believes that her body is a "balanced body."
She was born in the 1970s, during China's period of reform and opening up. It was an era when women were expected to take on family responsibilities while also making a mark in their careers. She told me that her body was constantly seeking a "balance" between family and work.
My mother said, "I go to work every day, and after coming home, I still have to do the housework. When you were born, your grandmother said your father was too tired and needed rest, so I took care of everything. I could only sleep three hours a day, and that time was really tough."
In addition, she was influenced by China's one-child policy and was required to have an IUD. She said, "Because you were a girl, the family planning committee was worried that I would secretly have a boy, so they made me wear the IUD. A few years ago, I finally got it removed."My mother’s body carried the dual burdens of family and society, becoming a symbol of how women of her time lived in a state of balance.
Design Concept :
For my mother’s balanced body, I thought of terms such as "delicate" and "precarious balance," and searched for some visual references. The image of a "chandelier" came to mind.I sought a fusion between a chandelier's design and my mother's core, coupled with a spread-like form.The back is a symbol of the burdens my mother faced in her everyday life as she walked the path of a housewife and also worked. Few people understand that in the last trimester of her pregnancy, the back carried the unimaginable burden of carrying a child on her lap of flesh. The shape of the spine reflects the pain she had to endure.I derived the web-like structure from the talks with my mother. While I use a spider-web element into the design, I also attempted to create a sense of "unbalancedness" and yet a sense of breathing and openness. Here was my design to give it the impression that though handling heavy responsibilities, there is always an openness and warmth stemming from my mother.
In comparing my mother to my grandmother's generation, it becomes apparent that my mother received a decent formal education and is open to new ideas. Of late, I have been very outwardly talking to her about marriage and other issues. She has gradually opened up to these modern ideas. Ultimately, the web structure of the design represents my mother's flexible mindset: her readiness to welcome a new order while keeping her ears open for the opinions of her family members. As such, the combination of flexibility and receptivity has provided her with an avenue to show a different form of inclusiveness in the family, which is distinct from that of the previous generation.
Specially torch-lit through any chandelier will also express how my mother has managed to negotiate her way between the family and society, as well as the times of sheer courage and wisdom this function has seen.
The balanced body - chandelier
By combining the female body with a chandelier, this work explores the collective memory of Chinese women in the 1970s.