Faculty of Design

Material Art & Design

Yining Fu

Grounded Necklace

My research subject explores and creates metaphors and visualizations of the helicopter parenting in childhood and its impact in children’s life. A realistic, organic shaped bird body part acts as a metaphor for the results of helicopter parenting. A non-realistic, or geometric bird body part is a metaphor for my effort to adapt into new life. A doll body part is a metaphor for the pressure and manipulation/control from parents. (Photo: Yochen Liu)

“Each hand corresponds to a pair of bird feet that are linked in a chain, as if the hands of masters are holding on tightly to their parrots. Not only are the hands are prisoning the feet, but these feet are also prisoning themselves. A cycle is thus formed that prohibits the victim from going outdoor even after a long-term grounding. The fifth pair of bird feet is held tight together by a piece of fabric in a beautiful knot, locked inside the plastic ball. This sphere represents the isolation in which the bird is grounded within the thin, transparent wall. The victim is beautiful and safe, but at the cost of freedom. The isolation also relates to the cage.”