Structure: wood, pulleys, plastic, cloth, live moss, light clay, hay, epoxy resin;
Analyzed objects: gloves, fish, meat, cheese, wheat, salt, thermometer, bank cards, ID cards, property certificates, jeweleries, mask

230×430×85cm; 2 months; 2020

During the quarantine, Collectivist and Individualistic cultures organized themselves to fight the common enemy. Chinese version of Collectivism valued basic needs more than spiritual needs on Maslow’s pyramid, but we did not have more serious mental health issues in that period comparing to other cultures.

I made an installation of five panels (physiological, safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization) analyzing Maslow’s philosophy in a Collectivist context to connect the originally western idea and eastern political history.

Process

I restructured painting frames into 5 door-sized panels to create a screen, a form historically representative to this culture.

Freezing fresh protein, fat, carbonhydrates, and minerals in epoxy resin, I analyzed their nutritional values and relations to the foundamental physiological need, targeting the idea that food could be difficult to get access to during the COVID.

For higher needs such as safety and esteem, I froze bank and ID cards and property certificates in resin as signifiers for shelter and self-esteem.

For the top hierarchy, self-actualization, I printed my essay on this topic to summarize the trauma and takeaway from this global event and its unique version taking place in China.