Floor talk | Silhouettes of silence – PhD work in progress
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Output Type
Other
Publication Title
Floor talk | Silhouettes of silence – PhD work in progress
Publisher
Edith Cowan University
School
School of Arts and Humanities
Description
Xue Li’s PhD research explores the paradox of visibility and invisibility experienced by Chinese women within the cultural institution of marriage. Her work critically engages with Chinese marital traditions through the use of red satin, video, and performative actions. Silhouettes of Silence presented in the Spectrum gallery integrates several experimental pieces midway through her candidature, examining the spatial relationships and scale of her practice-led research.
In this exploratory exhibition, Li utilizes multimodal approaches including video projection and performance, capturing her silhouette as she engages in symbolic acts such as playing with a round fan, painting obscured canvases, and exploring various expressive movements behind the satin. These actions metaphorically reflect hidden labor, silenced creativity, and suppressed aspirations shaped by patriarchal norms. The potential of materials—red satin fabric, shadow, and video projections—are tested and assessed, providing insights and directions for further studio-based exploration towards her final exhibition.
By transforming her presence into silhouettes behind red satin, Li critically interrogates women's erasure under cultural expectations. The gallery environment, intentionally curated to emphasize shadow and concealment, invites viewers to contemplate the often-unseen lives of Chinese women, posing crucial questions about existence, visibility, and autonomy within traditional structures.
Additional Information
Dates: 28 March – 4 April 2025