(14
)
This project is based on a record my mother had kept of name options for me, suggested by my grandfather. In Chinese names, each character is often a quality you want imbued in your child or grandchild. My grandfather wanted to give me a name such that I would possess qualities of a good wife.
I found an interesting contradiction between such traditional thinking against the modern society I now live in. I utilized iconic name keychains as a device to create art objects that bring this story of the old verses the contemporary to view. These hyper enlarged objects also create a bold statement, lending itself to it’s own contradiction against the traditional stereotypical image of a reserved asian woman.
The translations read: Ladylike & Chaste, Appeasing & Conjugal, Beautiful To Look At & Endearing To My Husband
Personal Project
36"x18"
Series of 3
WHO I COULD HAVE BEEN
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8c161d1753b8603122444f2cc539650d66865eb2e8b89e58c0216f63de4ae5f8/who-i-could-have-been2.png)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d9423930522495275cc1833f3b5e1aeb2d73f4af998c475503440fafc7a4dd51/who-i-could-have-been-1.png)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3db935fea2a1cbffe1a3ffcbb3c26892b51553bbdb9bd62893ca3e8afcb2c7a9/WhoICouldHaveBeen3.png)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cc96a9b458bc18c6d5d317fa5ea17f308793ae4118c694b1d6cd61ddfa8a6322/who-i-could-have-been.png)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/05dd983c586ba946c1e93eba9fd44262ba324d7ea2d41f896214e98d93331628/Grandpa-s-writing.png)