"XU" is a multifaceted project that intertwines performative art and personal introspection to explore the social and psychological dimensions of hair color.
The first part examines the external influences of social expectations and observation through an interactive helmet prototype, challenging perceptions of identity and power dynamics. The second part delves into the creator's inner journey, reflecting on the motivations behind changing hair colors and awakening a deeper understanding of self-identification, ultimately encouraging viewers to reflect on their own relationships with hair color and societal pressures.
A Performative Exploration of Hair
This helmet performative exploration focuses on exploring the appearance of hair colour in social space, the influence of social expectations and the influence of other people's attention. The helmet prototype serves as a performative and interactive artifact, challenging the relationship between the wearer and the observers. This project delves into challenges and provokes thought about social pressures, identity, and the power dynamics of observation. Through this helmet which obscures vision and invites interaction, this project seeks to create a profound and engaging exploration of how we present ourselves and perceive others in society.
The second part, 'XU', focuses on my inner exploration of the motivation behind my constantly changing hair colour and the journey of finding myself. Our thoughts 思绪(SI XU) lead us to choose changes in our hair 发绪(FA XU). I have dyed and bleached my hair more than four times in recent years, experimenting with black, red, brown and blonde. The idea of 'I want to dye my hair back to black' led me to a self-awakening about self-identification. I started this project by rethinking every reason why I changed my hair colour. Studying abroad made me face the challenge of fitting in, where the differences in hair colour and trendy media-driven styles made me reconsider my motivations for changing my hair colour. The final installation art of the project aims to awaken people's social consciousness to pay attention to their own hair colour and begin to question their journey on their relationship with hair colour.
