Faculty of Design

Material Art & Design

Si Chen

Unknown Fairy Tale

Unknown Fairy Tale is a series of works related to child sexual abuse and based on the author's actual memories. There are four pieces in the series, and they unfold in time, from "wounded", " ferment", "struggle", to "healing". Each piece can be worn, and several pieces incorporate the nature of performance art and invite the audience to participate. In addition to the direct visual impact, the viewer is given space to think. Besides, many second-hand children's items (clothes, toys, jewellery, etc.) are used to create a tactile and visual emotional connection with the audience. As narrative wearables, Unknown Fairy Tale uses body language and material language in combination with different artistic techniques to create its narrative context and to write to the audience about a real-life journey after a traumatic experience.

“ The process of healing is lengthy. The method of making "Healing" is also an expression of its concept, which has no end. In the illustration, the girl's stitching up of her wounds is shown in the finished product's crochet. I introduced the concept of time into the work's expression, and the process of crocheting became part of the concept. Scars and growths often accompany the healing of physical wounds, and the same goes for psychological injuries. Therefore, I present the "proliferation" of psychological wounds as they heal in the form of continuous crocheting. The process of crocheting is never-ending; it is a piece that will never be finished, just like the psychological wounds can never be erased.”