The Stream of Self
2018
“The Stream of Self,” Shih-Ying’s first video work using a hand-held camera, shows the Oregon coast and its trails. Through the overlapping of similar images, the integration between the genderless legs and valleys, and continuative fading, the body is immersed in Nature. The artist honors Nature through the frame of the thighs and this passive and respectful gesture. The human is birthed by the long-lasting stream and simultaneously, giving birth to Nature. The water also symbolizes desire, and through its representation and sound we begin to understand its perpetual life-giving force.
The combination of elapsing time and the eternity of Nature creates an atmosphere at once pensive and elated every time the artist hikes a trail or traces a river. He finds himself consciously aware of himself and unconsciously being touched by the discovery of Nature. Through touch, he interacts with his surrounding environment and minimizes himself in great Nature, to illustrate that we can not be aggressive in front of Nature.
The combination of elapsing time and the eternity of Nature creates an atmosphere at once pensive and elated every time the artist hikes a trail or traces a river. He finds himself consciously aware of himself and unconsciously being touched by the discovery of Nature. Through touch, he interacts with his surrounding environment and minimizes himself in great Nature, to illustrate that we can not be aggressive in front of Nature.