Interdependence
Sculpture | SLA 3D Printing
Media: Stereolithography, Acrylic Paint
Programs: Nomad
Size: 350 mm W × 350 mm D × 330 mm H
Date: May 2023
Abstract
Interdependence shows a mother swan sheltering her baby. At first, it feels protective, but upon deeper scrutiny, does the parent hold the child, or lean on it? The piece explores the complicated power of love – how it can lift us up or quietly drag us down.
Story
As a child, I thought dependence flowed just one way – children relied on parents. However, as I grew up, I realized that parents also rely on children for meaning, support, and stability. In many Chinese families, including mine, love and care can often blur into control. This sculpture embodies both the warmth and care that parents give to children, while also conveying the weight and control often hidden within protection.
Process
I sculpted the swans in Nomad, emphasizing the arc of the wings to suggest both shelter and control. I printed in SLA and finished with a thin layer of white acrylic, seeking to focus attention on the fragile balance of dependence as well as the tension between comfort and constraint.