Is there a norm in a life beyond the norm?

Who is alien IN SPACE?

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In this piece, I explore the experience of feeling like an outsider while expressing oneself in a cultural context different from one’s own, reflecting on my own journey as someone who is somehow always a foreigner adapting to life in different cultures.

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I use space as a metaphor to examine how cultural norms shift depending on context. Who defines what is “normal”, the locals or those who feel alien in a new environment? Are emotions universal, or shaped by culture? And is vulnerability perceived as a strength or a weakness?

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In this piece, a water pistol embodies these questions. While seemingly HARMLESS, being targeted by it evokes discomfort.

 

Inspired by Yi Fei Chen’s "Tear Gun", where water freezes to become a weapon, I imagine the water pistol in the context of space: water solidifies, turning a playful object into something formidable. The work reflects the duality of vulnerability, seemingly harmless, yet potentially powerful.