Lin C.

Artist's statement

Approaching the age of 17, after experiencing the chaotic and wild rollercoaster of a typical 16-year-old life, I began to feel curious about my soul. I longed to explore its components and understand how they shaped the person I am. This led me to start a project, posing these two questions to myself and seeking answers through art.

For me, Buddhism is not merely a belief passed down through my family, but a mindset that encourages mindfulness in every second of life and profound appreciation for all that I possess. With visually arresting collage techniques, I channel the forceful creativity of Western culture onto the forms of Buddhist icons. This synthesis moderates the inwardness of Eastern culture while offering Western thought a pathway to greater philosophical depth.

Through collage, I break down whole objects or scenes into fragments. Here, the object loses its independence, as it can be split and recombined in infinite variations, resulting in irregular forms that give visual expression to Barriers Vanish. Through Barriers Vanish, I build a private universe in this artwork, a tapestry woven with all people, all culture philosophies, and everything that inhabits this world. And if you look closely, you'll see a part of me woven into it as well.