Growing Layers

Niangao is 年糕 in Chinese. The character 年 means ‘year’, and the character 糕 means ‘cake’, which share the same pronunciation as gao, meaning ‘tall’ or ‘high’.

So, the pronunciation of niangao sounds like 'year high', which symbolizes a higher income, a higher position, the growth of children, and generally the promise of a better year in Chinese minds.

When I was a child, my parents had expectations for my height, they wanted me to grow up to be a slender girl(A Chinese idiom to describe a slender girl is “TingtingYuli”), so they would have some artificial actions to interfere with my growth, such as taking traditional Chinese medicine. Finally, 172 cm is my height and my parents' expectation.

"Growing Layers" is an intimate exploration of cultural symbolism, family expectations, and the intricate interplay between food, gender, and identity. Inspired by the special food of my hometown(Ningbo) — Chinese traditional rice cake，my practice delves into the complexities of family dynamics, societal pressures, and the negotiation of personal identity within traditional frameworks.

In my artwork, I employ the medium of rice cakes, a specialty of my hometown, as a powerful visual metaphor. At the dinner table, I meticulously layer the rice cake pieces, symbolically shaping my own body. This act carries echoes of familial traditions and rituals, highlighting the influence of the family unit in shaping personal identity. However, as the layers accumulate, an unexpected twist unfolds—the collapse of the rice cake stack.

The collapse of the rice cake stack becomes a poignant moment, unveiling the fragility of societal expectations and the inherent resilience required to navigate personal growth. It prompts viewers to question the limitations of conforming to external pressures.

"Growing Layers" aims to spark conversations about the impact of patriarchy, family expectations, and social norms on an individual's identity. It challenges traditional ideas of femininity, beauty and appearance. My work invites the audience to reflect on their own experiences, perceptions of tradition, and societal expectations.