Self Healing is an Intimate Thing
Coming from a Chinese upbringing, I’ve learnt that self-healing is an intimate process. You deal with the wounds yourself.
The phrase ‘Self Healing is an Intimate Thing’ was directly translated into Chinese oracle bone script— the most ancient Chinese language carved into turtle bones for future predictions. The metal punches through another piece of metal under pressure, destroying the ancient scripts. The text becomes even more unreadable and mysterious. It’s as if our wounds are mysterious, often requiring us to peel back layer after layer to uncover what they truly mean underneath.
My Chinese culture empowers and breaks me at the same time. There’s a fine line between embracing the culture and not letting it drag you down. This necklace is my interpretation of my culture and how I heal myself through my culture.
Fig: Self Healing is an Intimate Thing Necklace I, Vivian Qiu, 2023, Aluminium, brass, steel.
The Oracle bone script is the most ancient Chinese language. It was created during the late Shang dynasty. Questions about imperial family, wars, farming, future events, weathers and so on would be carved on the turtle back bones or ox scapulae. The script would be read from top to bottom.
The questions were first brushed on the bone with ink, then carved. Some tiny holes may be drilled at the back of the bone. After heating the bone, the crack will show. The diviner would interpret the prediction according to the pattern of the cracks.
Reference:
Cambridge University Library (n.d.), Chinese Oracle Bones, accessed 06 Aug 2023. https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-CUL-00001-00155/3
Museum of the Institute of History and Philology (n.d.), Oracle Bones, accessed 06 Aug 2023. https://museum.sinica.edu.tw/en/collection/32/
Read from top to bottom, right to left: Self healing is an intimate thing.
Group exhibition Bodyguard, Gallerie Gemla, Stockholm, Sweden, 29 March - 16 April 2023
Partial view from solo exhibition ‘What is your root?’, presented as part of Incinerator Gallery Offsite Program, venue: Avondale Heights Library and Learning Centre, 2 August — 24 Nov 2023.
Artwork (from left to right):
Self Healing is an Intimate Thing II, 2023, brass, aluminium, embroidery floss, Chinese scroll, 200 x 55cm.
Come Back, 2023, soil and grass clay, leader rope, steel, beads, 85cm in leather length, pendant: 8 x 6cm.
Untitled necklace, 2023, soil and grass clay, tin, steel wire, diameter from 18cm to 36cm.
Design Sketch, 2023, pencil or pen on sketch paper
Hand stitching each piece and surname ‘Qiu’ onto the Chinese scroll, just like ancient Chinese poem.