Email: jieminglan1@gmail.com
Email: jieminglan1@gmail.comThis project delves into the realm of romantic relationships, endeavoring to articulate that marriage and love are not solely the epitome of bliss as idealized, but rather that happiness and sorrow are intertwined and inseparable. Couples are led by a red string symbolising matrimonial fate amidst countless beautiful, fragile soap bubbles. Through metaphor-laden installation and interactive experiences, this project immerses its audience in the complex emotional landscape of romantic relationships, striving to impart an understanding of love and vows by contrasting their beauty with their fragility. This project primarily consists of three parts: film, installation, and interactive section.
Architectural Association, London, UK, 2024
Installation Section
The film, a central piece of the exhibition, artfully weaves together elements of bubbles, rings, and red threads, creating a visual and thematic resonance with the interactive and installation components of the showcase. The imagery is characterized by soft, bright colors and a gentle, deliberate pace, enveloping viewers in an atmosphere of tender luminosity. As the narrative unfolds, two voice actors methodically recite a series of classic romantic vows, their voices interweaving yet never fully converging, against a backdrop of ethereal, dreamlike music. This auditory experience, combined with the visual softness and slow rhythm of the film, crafts an almost surreal beauty, an idyllic scene that feels both immensely beautiful and eerily intangible. This deliberate contrast between the joyous and sorrowful—highlighting the beauty and fragility of love and vows through a technique of juxtaposing cheerful visuals with underlying sadness—invites reflection. It underscores the delicate balance between the ephemeral moments of happiness in love and the inherent vulnerability of commitments, compelling viewers to contemplate the complex nature of romantic bonds. Through this artistic approach, the film aims to evoke a deep emotional response, encouraging audiences to appreciate the profound yet fragile beauty of love and the promises it entails.
Happiness and sorrow coexist. How can I ensure that I will not renege on my vow? When receiving a declaration of love from my partner, am I hearing romantic phrases, the transient nature of words, the unpredictability of the future, or my partner's true sincerity? We place our faith in our partner’s vows, their fidelity and enduring love, believing in the perpetual magnetism between us. Yet, despite our faith and bravery, even the most steadfast vows cannot secure the future’s certainty. All we can do at the moment of professing our vows and love is to exchange our sincerest sentiments. The beauty of love and promises may not be everlasting, but in that moment, they fulfill their eternal purpose.
Interaction Section
Spanning a physical space that invites interaction, the installation is composed of a series of suspended spheres that mimic the delicate appearance of bubbles. These spheres, crafted from a variety of materials to achieve different textures and translucencies, hang from the ceiling by nearly invisible threads, suggesting the fleeting moments of joy and the fragility of promises made in love. Below these, a layer of mesh and glass pieces introduces a contrast of materials, symbolizing the complexity and potential sharpness of relationships. The installation's ambient lighting and the soft, diffused glow cast upon the elements within create a dreamlike atmosphere, further enhanced by a soundscape that blends ambient music with fragments of vows. This sensory combination evokes a contemplative mood, urging visitors to ponder the beauty of love's idealizations against the backdrop of its vulnerabilities.
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Watch the videoEvent Introduction
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HomeIn collaboration with Charon Hu, Chufan Chen, Danjing Yang, Fei Jin, Hongliang Wu, Kailin Xu, Luoyi Xu, Tian Lan Special thanks to Fei Jin, Lin He, Shiyuan Chen, Ziyuan Wang, AAIS Students, AAIS Studio Tutors, AA Wood and Metal Workshop, AA Model Workshop, AA Digital Photo Studio, AA AV Studio
This project initially stems from a question I have long pondered: Why do I fear marriage? I once believed it was influenced by my mother's pessimistic attitude towards marriage, or perhaps witnessing numerous unhappy romantic tales. However, ultimately, I discovered that this fear originates from my immature attitude towards commitment. A relationship is made up of many beautiful promises, and the vows made at a wedding are the most idealized among them. In the context of romantic relationships, I am fixated on an outcome, just as years of academic study are aimed at achieving a final grade. The more I anticipate a certain beautiful future, the more concerned I become about the present promises being unfulfilled, leading to an increased fear of future uncertainties. Consequently, I begin to lose my enjoyment of the sweet nothings in love, worrying that they are as beautiful yet fragile as bubbles, leading to my growing restlessness and unease. From this, I arrived at the concept for this project.
Project Description
Film Section
Film Section
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HomeConcept Development
Veiled Vows
This film cleverly intertwines highly symbolic objects such as bubbles, rings, and red threads, creating a resonance with the visual and thematic elements of the exhibition's interactive and installation parts. The film employs the technique of contrasting joyous scenery with melancholic emotions, generating an intensely surreal feeling through the combination of fantastical, beautiful imagery and music with overly idealized wedding vows. The use of blurred and slow-motion shots accentuates the creator's beautiful fantasies about love and the profound, unattainable sorrow that accompanies them.
https://youtu.be/PnTWgKvzYioThis project invites audience participation to explore deeper layers of emotional engagement and reflection on the themes of love and commitment. This facet of the project transforms viewers from passive observers into active participants, directly engaging them in a series of symbolic actions that echo the intricacies and vulnerabilities inherent in romantic relationships. At the core of the interactive experience is the deliberate use of physical props, such as ice blocks containing hidden rings and containers for bubble- blowing, which serve as metaphors for the fragility and ephemeral beauty of love. Participants are prompted to perform actions like melting the ice together to reveal rings and collaboratively blowing and protecting bubbles. These activities are not just participatory tasks but deeply symbolic gestures that mirror the acts of uncovering and nurturing love, emphasizing the collaborative effort required to sustain a relationship. The most poignant aspect of the interactive design lies in its ability to create a shared experience among participants. Through the act of exchange—whether it's rings symbolizing a bond or the collective endeavor to keep bubbles afloat—participants experience firsthand the joys, challenges, and transient nature of love and vows. This shared experience is further amplified by the connecting red string, a powerful visual and tactile representation of the invisible ties that bind individuals together in love and life.
The exhibition curated jointly by Luoyi and Lan, forming a segment of the AAIS 2023 Phase2 graduation event, was showcased on March 12th and 13th, 2024. The event kicked off with a private exhibition on March 12th, exclusively by invitation, followed by a public showing on March 13th. The venue for this significant occasion was located at 1 Montague St, London, WC1B 5BP. This exhibition was constituted by two main works: "Veiled Vows" by Lan, serving as her graduation piece, and "InnerPulse" by Luoyi, his contribution to the graduation showcase. "Veiled Vows" is a multi-faceted work incorporating film, installation, and interactive elements. On the other hand, "InnerPulse" presents an innovative blend of interactive wearable technology and performance, complemented by a film component. The exhibition not only highlighted the technical skills and creative vision of both Luoyi and Lan but also offered visitors a deep dive into the thematic concerns central to each piece. By juxtaposing "Veiled Vows" with "InnerPulse," the exhibition fostered a rich dialogue between the concepts of commitment and emotional interplay, inviting attendees to reflect on the complexity of human relationships and the myriad ways they can be expressed and understood.