Qi Zheng’s cell dream (2023) seamlessly resonates with the thematic core of my curatorial project, The Plasticity of Life, by embodying the ideas of fluid growth, inner vitality, and bodily transformation. Presented in the format of a triptych, the central silk panel displays a vivid, biological illustration combining cell imagery, anatomical motifs, and blooming orchid structures. A digital frame embedded within the centre of the work displays a looping animation, contrasting with the static ink lines and emphasising the theme of temporal transformation.
This piece is particularly relevant to the second and third parts of my exhibition—namely, “Experiencing Trauma” and “Repairing and Rebuilding.” The symbolism of the cell as the origin of life and the orchid as a resilient feminine force aligns with the exhibition’s exploration of bodily fragility, survival, and regeneration. The slow animation draws viewers into a meditative state, encouraging them to witness not just physical processes, but emotional ones: cycles of rupture, endurance, and becoming.
Additionally, the translucent fabric and use of projection-friendly materials would integrate beautifully into the third-floor skylit space of my show. It invites a spatial and sensory experience that speaks to a multisensory engagement—mirroring the living, breathing, and ever-shifting state of being that the exhibition ultimately seeks to convey.
References
Zheng, Q. (2023). cell dream [Installation]. Group Exhibition, Chengdu.
cell dream © 2025 by Chuni Mao is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 
cell dream（detail） © 2025 by Chuni Mao is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
