When I was nine years old, my father passed away, and ever since, much of my artistic work has been rooted in the sadness and grief of his passing. However, this semester, I made a conscious choice to make my art more interactive and accessible to a broader audience, expanding individual memories and the concept of self to reach more people. I had found that my work was deeply personal and struggled to express my concept without my presence alongside the art. Moreover, after encountering multiple losses in my life, I observed personal growth within myself. I hoped that this project could assist others in navigating their own moments of despair.

This project marks the culmination of my semester's work, as I sought to create a private space where people could grieve and reflect on life. The primary material I used is joss paper, a culturally significant item that symbolizes money for the deceased. We burn it when people pass away, believing that the departed will receive it in the afterlife. It's an item that brings solace, allowing us to believe that life continues even when our loved ones are no longer with us. Inside the mirror, there's a calligraphic representation of the Chinese character "死," which means "death." However, when you turn the whole piece upside down, the character transforms into "生," which means "life." This motion is meant to encourage my audience to reconsider the concept of death. People often fear death because it's perceived as the end of life and everything. However, death is not the end; it's a continuation of life. When a person passes away, their belongings and memories remain, and so does their impact on us. There is no real ending, and this realization can provide comfort in the face of loss. Those who haven't experienced the death of a loved one may struggle to understand the depth of this sadness or know how to console those who are grieving. This space I've created facilitates conversations and dialogues, allowing people to express their emotions and support one another.

The fabric that hangs around the artwork serves as a memorial where people can write the names of their deceased loved ones, symbolizing their enduring presence. A poem in Chinese is displayed around the piece, which can be translated as, "We are born in the human world where parting is inevitable, so why should we be troubled by death?" We must always face goodbyes, and it's vital for us to come to terms with them. In the end, it's essential for us to treasure every moment with the people around us and appreciate the life we have, even though we know that death is an inevitable part of it.