Mother Casting

My creative journey with this piece began with the sadness of separation from my mother. While missing her presence I stumbled upon a box of her belongings in which I found a Qipao dress, once cherished by her, now finding its way into my hands. This dress came with memories of childhood, playing dress up. It symbolizes my connection to her.

Inviting nine of my closest friends to wear this dress, I began my visual exploration of familial bonds and the complexities of motherly love. In the embrace of the Qipao, I found comfort in the familiarity of their presence.

I had them come in wearing the dress and saying the line of,

Hello, my name is *my mother’s name

In the repetition of my mother’s name, my friends acted like figures in a police lineup, they stood before the lens. In the creation of this piece, the same question lingered in my mind, can the feeling of maternal love be replicated? Can the bonds forged by choice compare to those of blood? These questions prompted me to capture the essence of my friends embodying the role of my mother in a series of photographs and videos.