Part I

Part II

This project explores Nüshu, an extinct writing system created and ​exclusively used by women in villages in southern China. In a highly ​patriarchal society where women were denied access to formal ​education and literacy, local women ingeniously developed their own ​writing system for exchanging letters, poems, and songs. The Nüshu ​system resembles a harmonious blend of colors and music.

This creative project is divided into three parts. The first and second ​parts draw inspiration from Nüshu characters. I conducted research ​and learned to write characters imbued with meanings related to ​women and nature, such as "mother," "star," and "wind." I then ​experimented with various materials and recreated these characters ​as a tribute to the interconnectedness and beautiful bonds within the ​women's community.

The third part is a visual creation developed using TouchDesigner. ​The visualization is responsive to the symphony of "NU SHU – The ​Secret Songs of Women" by composer Tan Dun.

For women and girls who were forced into sexual slavery

by the Japanese Imperial Army before and during World War II

The creative project, “The Archive of Ianfu (comfort women),” draws inspiration from the documentary “Twenty Two”. The goal of the project is to shed light ​on the stories of survivors – women who were forced into sex slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, through their own narrations with ​the use of tactile, visual, and audio elements.

The first two parts of the project involve the redesign of damaged female reproductive organs through experimentation with various materials such as yarn, ​cotton, and paper. Fiber yarn is an ideal choice due to its continuous, interlocking, and flexible nature. It can be transformed into any desired shape while ​maintaining its essence, just as comfort women have displayed resilience and courage in their recovery journey. Despite the narration in different languages, ​women’s stories are interconnected.

The third part of the project consists of a documentary that incorporates a collection of interviews and testimonies, creating an archive of personal ​narratives. In this documentary, Kathie narrated the written stories, utilized p5.js to create dynamic background visuals, and incorporated background music ​featuring traditional Chinese and Korean instruments.

"This too shall pass."