Arts Thread

I am Valerie, a recent graduate from Rhode Island School of Design and I concentrate on jewelry and metalsmithing. As a citizen of Hong Kong, I experienced the Hong Kong Protest in 2019. Creating jewelry is a way to express how I perceive the environment and political context surrounding me. I do not aim to become a political artist but to leave a historical testimony. Recombining culturally charged found materials in new contexts communicates my complex emotions about historical events. Through different carriers of information, I manifest my perceptions through conversion and give new definitions of nationality and patriotism motifs in the context of Hong Kong.Previously, I focused on working with found objects in Hong Kong to express my awareness of the local issue and demonstrate care of society and the community. With this foundation of local knowledge, I explored recognizable language and visual cues related to political events and social issues, like memes or photos associated with Hong Kong's Protests, that evoke shared memories and experiences of Hong Kong citizens. Such shared memories and experiences create a communal collective memory, also verbal and visual clues serve to evolve and remind us of our sense of solidarity.My research project ROOT focuses on how wearable objects can assist protesters in expressing themselves daily under the constraints of the Hong Kong authorities National Security Law. National Security Law is a legislation implemented by the Chinese government in 2020 to safeguard national security in Hong Kong. The law covers secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces, granting the Hong Kong government additional powers to investigate and prosecute individuals suspected of such offenses. Implementing the National Security Law has sparked controversy and debate within Hong Kong and internationally, as it undermines the region's autonomy and freedoms and causes a chilling effect on society.I developed a visual protest system consisting of wearable objects, such as political buttons, stickers, t-shirts, and keychains, to be disseminated throughout society. This system of non-verbal resistance is designed to operate safely and without compromising individual agency, providing a means for individuals to navigate the restrictions and suppression imposed by the authorities. Meanwhile, the term "ROOT" originates from the initial words of the slogan "Revolution of Our Time.", which is commonly used by the protesters in Hong Kong. It also means the foundation, origin and home for something.I am committed to using my profession to effect positive change in the face of ongoing challenges. I believe the impact and power of wearable objects cannot be underestimated, and I am motivated to encourage people to hold on to their opinions. Therefore I work with mediums, formats, and price points that are easily accessible to the general public. The strength of the resistor lies in the ability to realize oneself, to live as an individual, to practice one's values, and to demonstrate the will and purpose of action. My work is meant to illustrate the possibility of living with integrity, truth, and resistance under the current circumstances in Hong Kong.