A Midsummer Night's Dream-Threads of liberation
My narrative delves into themes of oppression within the global women's society, drawing parallels to "A Midsummer Night's Dream." In today's political landscape, women continue to struggle against male-dominated societies. My work is set against the backdrop of the Second Wave Feminist Movement of the 1970s, emphasizing bodily autonomy. “The unifying force in a heterogeneous sexual politics was the emphasis on taking control over one's own life and body, hence the feminist slogan: 'Our bodies are our own'” (Weeks, 2017). This piece features a 6.5-meter-long double-sided veil that fully covers the performer. Through bodily movements, the designed knots gradually unravel to the ground, allowing the performer to emerge from the veil and flip it to reveal the other side. Ultimately, the veil is dismantled into two sections, forming a 13-meter-long fabric centered around the performer, adorned with three-dimensional floral representations of the female vulva and protest slogans. The work also utilizes film documentation, capturing the concept of costume as activism in London’s Parliament Square. I hope this artwork carries a powerful message, resonating deeply with its audience, encouraging them to feel empowered and brave, knowing that their experiences are not their fault and that liberation is possible.