Gengtao Lei

Abandoned Infant Tower

My art emerges from the intersection of harsh reality and the idealized worlds I envision—a dialogue between what is and what could be. At the heart of my work lies a deep engagement with feminism, not as a mere subject but as a lived experience and a lens through which I examine and reinterpret the world around me. My journey through art is one of personal growth, a continuous exploration of self-perception, societal structures, and the multifaceted nature of gender injustice.In seeking to bridge the gap between my vision and the audience's understanding, Open with surrealism,I have crafted a narrative that reimagines the fundamentals of human reproduction and social order. In this alternate reality, females are oviparous, laying eggs that develop into children, with their sex determined by environmental temperatures—a reflection on the impacts of global warming and its potential to reshape societal norms. This world envisions a radical shift in parenting and reproductive rights, where the privilege of raising a child is granted only to those who demonstrate genuine love and capability, challenging the traditional expectations placed upon women and men alike.My final installation artwork was influenced by a feminist artist, Louise Bourgeois' sculpture "Mother." So I also used the same textured material to express the spiritual core of my work. This work intertwines the biological and the metaphorical, placing the spawning egg on a spider's web with a black metallic sheen. The red threads link each other, the spider web represents women as a community of destiny, and the egg in the web can be opened to reveal the embryo, linking it to the realities of the cost and pain of pregnancy. Underneath this web, broken eggshells and eggs buried in the sand symbolize men and outcasts, highlighting the irony of reversed social status and reality.This installation is a physical manifestation of my narrative, employing symbolism to communicate complex themes of gender, reproduction, and environmental influence. The spider's web, as a metaphor for women's roles as fate weavers, aligns with the reality of women's interconnected struggles and triumphs. The sand beneath echoes the story's environmental aspects, while the intact and broken eggs serve as poignant representations of femininity, masculinity, and the societal valuation of each.Through my art, I aim to provoke thought, challenge established norms, and inspire dialogue on gender equality and reproductive rights. It is a call to recognize the power of self-determination, to advocate for societal change, and to empower those at the margins to alter their destinies. My work is an invitation to envision a world where gender roles are redefined, where reproductive rights are respected as a matter of personal will, and where the birth of every individual—regardless of gender—is celebrated.This world I've created is not just a sanctuary from gender dependency; it is a celebration of femininity and autonomy. The societal structures ensure that only those with a genuine desire and capacity to nurture are entrusted with the role of parenting, thereby addressing issues of responsibility and the sanctity of reproductive rights.My intention is to underscore that the fight for gender equality and the reclamation of reproductive rights must stem from a place of self-determination and awareness. Through my art, I advocate for a paradigm shift that empowers women, particularly those marginalized, to alter their destinies and the collective future. It is a call to arms for women to assert their right to societal participation, to challenge the status quo, and to carve out spaces where their voices lead the narrative.my work is an ode to potentiality—a beacon for change in a world teetering on the brink of transformative shifts. It is an invitation to explore a reality where the essence of gender equality is not just imagined but lived, and where the act of creation itself becomes a form of resistance and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.