This experimental project aims to delve into the intricate relationship between the concept of identity and elements such as words, signs, symbols, and images. The primary objective is to visually experiment with signs and symbols that have been assigned by external entities, forming what can be regarded as my "public identity."
The first and second piece of the project portray my public identity through a juxtaposition of a "WeChat" scan code (a Chinese social media instant messaging service) on the left and Morse code (a method of transmitting text information using sequences of short and long dots and dashes) representing my name. Employing scaled and cropped scan code elements, the original scan code, and geometric shapes, this piece aims to reinterpret the standardized dots and dashes of Morse code.
The third and fourth piece feature my name in Chinese characters on the left, accompanied by different codes representing these characters in the Chinese language system on the right. This composition highlights the contrast between Eastern and Western approaches to writing, incorporating left-to-right/top-to-bottom compositions and a black-on-white/white-on-black color scheme representing the 12-hour time difference. Inspired by personal identification documents such as the social security card, driver's license, and passport, numerical elements are incorporated to further emphasize the concept of "public identity."
The fifth and sixth piece establish a parallel between juxtaposed images of fences, visually reinterpreting the barcode from my passport. Both the barcode and fence not only share a similarity in shape but also in positive/negative space relation. Drawing a metaphorical connection, the passport barcode, assigned by the government to each individual citizen, may be seen as binding and restrictive, mirroring the way fences restrict those who intend to breach territorial boundaries.
This exploration seeks to unravel the complex interplay between assigned symbols and personal identity, utilizing visual experimentation to communicate cultural contrasts and societal constraints. Through the artistic reinterpretation of symbols associated with public identity, this project contributes to the broader discourse on the visual representation of identity and its multifaceted nature.