Mom, I don’t want to dream of you anymore is a mixed media artwork by the artist Rachel Wang (Yuqiu Wang).
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“
As I gradually approach the age at which my mother gave birth to me, I become increasingly aware of the deep imprints she has left on me. Her influence is embedded in every word, every action, and even every breath I take, much like her pursuit in my nightmares. Thus, I embarked on a journey to expel these haunting dreams, engaging in a series of self-healing endeavors, preparing to step out of the shadows cast by my mother...
”
“
As I gradually approach the age at which my mother gave birth to me, I become increasingly aware of the deep imprints she has left on me. Her influence is embedded in every word, every action, and even every breath I take, much like her pursuit in my nightmares. Thus, I embarked on a journey to expel these haunting dreams, engaging in a series of self-healing endeavors, preparing to step out of the shadows cast by my mother...
”
Yuqiu Wang (Rachel) is a queer artist graduated from the Master's program in Design at Goldsmiths, University of London. Her primary focus lies in the research of knitted garment design and dance therapy, exploring the emotional expression of knitwear and the healing effects of body movement on trauma.
During her Master's studies, Rachel dedicated herself to research on identity while channeling her passion for soft art mediums and dance into her design work. For her Master's thesis project, she delved into the theme of emotional trauma between mother and daughter, utilizing embroidery and knitting. In her published work, Rachel employed various embroidery patterns to encapsulate different stages of her and her mother's stories, contributing to trauma cognition.
The bright red, interwoven with lightning blue threads, symbolizes her rebellious spirit, woven into her skirt. Adorned in these creations, she dances in her dreams, narrating her story of dream expulsion.
Performance Film
5mins
In the final moments of the dance, she discovers the resemblance between the deep red cloak symbolizing her mother and the hem of her own skirt. Realizing her true longing for this connection from her mother, she finds the answers to her healing journey and decides to rebuild this connection...
5mins
In the final moments of the dance, she discovers the resemblance between the deep red cloak symbolizing her mother and the hem of her own skirt. Realizing her true longing for this connection from her mother, she finds the answers to her healing journey and decides to rebuild this connection...
Embroidery Handmade Book
Paper, fabric, 148*210mm
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Within the handmade book, I employ a form of self-therapy to recollect various conflicts that occurred between my mother and me, narrating the stories to myself.
Paper, fabric, 148*210mm
Within the handmade book, I employ a form of self-therapy to recollect various conflicts that occurred between my mother and me, narrating the stories to myself.
The Chinese name of the handmade book is 「驱梦」, a term used in China to describe dispelling nightmares through certain ritualistic methods. Writing this book became my first ritual of dispelling nightmares of my mom.
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This handmade book incorporates the art of embroidery. I am fond of all things soft, delicate threads, and the diverse textures created by combining them. I believe that through the subtle changes in these exquisite items, countless emotions can be conveyed. The raw material, threads, can symbolize the entangled relationship between mother and daughter.
This handmade book incorporates the art of embroidery. I am fond of all things soft, delicate threads, and the diverse textures created by combining them. I believe that through the subtle changes in these exquisite items, countless emotions can be conveyed. The raw material, threads, can symbolize the entangled relationship between mother and daughter.
In the next stage, I plan to adapt the ongoing stories from this book into a dance drama. Stay tuned for more updates!😎
Mom, Knitwear and Dance Workshop
1min
In collaboration with a professional dance instructor, the workshop takes the form of allowing participants to use their bodies and fabrics to tell their own stories. The activities include exploring the functionality of fabrics in dance, narrating one's mother-daughter relationship in a relaxed state, and engaging in group and collective choreography using fabrics.
During the collective choreography segment, without any guidance, a girl picked up a ball of yarn from the floor and began to unravel it, connecting everyone by intertwining the threads. I observed participants slowly moving closer to each other, crossing the length of the fabric during paired choreography. I heard someone mention that, in the winter in London, she felt like she transformed from a cold blue to a warm red. Witnessing the emotional support flowing among participants who share similar experiences, it became evident that everyone bestowed additional meanings to the yarn, revealing more possibilities for the fabric.
1min
In collaboration with a professional dance instructor, the workshop takes the form of allowing participants to use their bodies and fabrics to tell their own stories. The activities include exploring the functionality of fabrics in dance, narrating one's mother-daughter relationship in a relaxed state, and engaging in group and collective choreography using fabrics.
During the collective choreography segment, without any guidance, a girl picked up a ball of yarn from the floor and began to unravel it, connecting everyone by intertwining the threads. I observed participants slowly moving closer to each other, crossing the length of the fabric during paired choreography. I heard someone mention that, in the winter in London, she felt like she transformed from a cold blue to a warm red. Witnessing the emotional support flowing among participants who share similar experiences, it became evident that everyone bestowed additional meanings to the yarn, revealing more possibilities for the fabric.