The Kite Flier

2024; Aluminum alloy, steel bars, ready-made cement pier; 51.2 × 35.4 × 80.7 in

The central figures of this piece are two Barbie dolls modified to resemble airplanes. She has no arms, only wings, and her only means of movement is the seemingly free act of flying. Yet no matter how she flies, there is always a string pulling her from behind. In this work, the string is represented by a heavy steel rod, which is connected to a block of cement. This cement block was reclaimed from the ruins of a demolition site in Beijing. The piece carries a sense of self-reflection: as we pursue freedom, there is always an invisible force pulling us back. This force could be family, nation, environment, or even internal emotional ties.