The Mending Project by Beili Liu

非常感谢艺术家 Beili Liu 将项目介绍和项目图片授权gooood发行。更多请至：Beili Liu  on gooood 
Appreciation towards Beili Liu for providing the following description:

The installation consists of hundreds of Chinese scissors suspended from the ceiling, pointing downwards. The hovering, massive cloud of scissors alludes to distant fear, looming violence and worrisome uncertainty. The performer sits beneath the countless sharp blades of the scissors, and performs an on-going simple task of mending.

The overwhelming situation presented in The Mending Project is balanced and softened by the silent persistence of a simple mending action. The large quantity and intense force of the scissors elevate the confrontation between the objects and the performer. The installation/performance evokes urgency, concern, and fear, while simultaneously influence viewers through the calming and healing aura of the mending action.

As each visitor enters the space, one is asked to cut off a piece of the white cloth hung near the entrance, and offer the cut section to the performer. She then continuously sews the cut pieces onto the previous ones. The mended fabric grows in size throughout the duration of the performance, and takes over the vast area of the floor beneath the scissors.

1. How did the idea come about to create this installation?
I have worked with needles and thread as installation materials for the last three years or so. So it seems to be a natural progression to work with Scissors and fabric. I grow up in China. This kind of traditional scissors are used in each household. There is a warm familiarity about them. I am also attracted to their simple and elegant form. These scissors consist of three simple parts: two extruded iron pieces, and one copper hinge that links them in place. Conceptually, I am interested in harnessing the threatening essence of these razor sharp scissors. They are not “polite” like the ones we are used to. You can use them to cut or stab. Also, in Chinese culture, scissors shall never be positioned pointing at anyone, for it will bring ill fortune. They can be sharpened when needed and last a life time. On the other hand, they are women’s tools, just like sewing is a traditional women’s task in domestic life. I am interested in investigating the power of the humble action of “mending”, as a woman artist.

2. What was the crowd’s reaction like?
Upon entering the space, viewers walk around a curved wall before being confronted by the room-sized installation and performance. The initial response was perhaps shock and disbelieve, and then turns into intrigue, fear, concern (for the performer), curiosity, excitement, then their energy transforms to be more contemplative. People slow down, examine, gaze, walk around the piece silently, and and breathe with the sewing rhythm. It is quite an interesting combination to be both the performer and the observer of the viewer reaction.

3. Were you the person who sat and sewed?
Yes.

4. How much time did it take to put up those scissors?
One week. My installation manager and a team of about 5-7 volunteers helped to tie the scissors and suspend them from the ceiling.

5. Exactly how many scissors were used?
1500 pairs.

1500把剪刀从天花板上悬落下来，刀刃指向地板，形成一片颇有声势并暗示恐惧，不安，暴力的暗云。中国出生并长大的华裔艺术家Beili Liu就坐在这片黑刃云下面，悠然自得的缝着针线活儿。

在强制性的压迫下面进行简单的，沉默的针线活儿，这种对峙属于“以柔克刚”。对象的强烈与行动的柔和所产生的对抗和反差也形成了强大的气场，影响观众。

每个访客进入都会将入口处的一块白布切下来带给艺术家，然后艺术家将这些白布缝合起来，随着时间的推进，缝合的布料越来越大，蔓延到地板上。

艺术家在中国长大，针线活对她并不陌生，过去艺术家做过与针线活有关的工作达三年之久。所采用的剪刀也是中国传统式，一种由三部分组成，两个铸型铁件及中间的铜铰链接构件，这剪刀其古典美深深吸引着艺术家。艺术家利用剪刀的锋利刀刃表达出“威胁”这一境界，剪刀在日常也是具有伤害值。此外在中国文化中，拿着剪刀对着别人意味着会给别人带来厄运。日常中，剪刀如同缝纫机，只是妇女的家务工具。Beili Liu以女性艺术家的身份对“缝补”这一日常行为感到兴趣。

很多观众看到这个场景最初是震惊和难以置信，随后他们恐惧，好奇，兴奋，并关注表演，同时受到影响陷入沉思。人们放慢脚步，仔细观察和聆听，并与缝纫的节奏达到协调。这样的互动无疑相当有趣。

艺术家本人进行这场艺术表演。其上方1500把剪刀在5—7名志愿者的参与帮助下，花了一个星期安装完毕。

MORE: Beili Liu，更多请至：Beili Liu  on gooood