Mirror - Ada (Midterm Project)

Topic: Mirror                 

Thematic Explanation

What is underneath the mirror?

Along our lifespan, we are somehow constantly mimicking. We are watching the others, and being watched. We are learning one another like from the traditions, social norms or behaviors of your peers. That is called observational learning in Psychology. In return, the society are trying put the established norms, expectation or values onto people especially on the growing-up like us. We are expected to be success, academic well, dress nicely and getting married etc. As a result, we are like a mirror, receiving so many images from the outer world, in other words reflecting the society. My project is trying to reveal both sides of the mirror, one is showing the expectation from the outer world, one from the inner which is our true selves.

Aesthetic and Technical Elaboration

I used lots of symbols in the following pictures to build up the context, shows the conflicts and deliver the message etc. For instance “water” refers to “pure” in the sets of Lifestyle and “trophy” refers to success.

And for the color tone, I applied black and white to show the inner scenes of our generation, contrasting to the colorful scenes of reflecting the society. The black and white picture are telling the true desire when the light is off from the society. The color tone help shows the contrast and the emphasis.

Multiple angles are adopted from high, middle, wide, close-up etc and most of the background is blurred to show the contrast with the subject.

I divided the 10 pictures into 5 themes and they are as the following:

Lifestyle – you are EXPECTED to drink water 

The first picture shows that the expected lifestyle of a teenager. I use “water” to symbolize the meaning of “pureness, clearness and maturity”. Lots of growing-up in Hong Kong have been assigned for many duties since they were very young. For instance, they should be academically well, know at least one or two musical instruments and find a decent job in the business field right after their graduation.

The second picture shows the inner side of ourselves. Symbols of “cigarette” and “alcohols” are used to refer the true desires and attitude towards our lifestyle.

Career – you are EXPECTED to be a nurse (chunki)

This picture is illustrated by my friend who is studying a nursing degree which is deemed as a professional. Thus students who are under this field are expected to be a nurse or any related jobs in the concerned field. And especially under this era of shortage of medical practitioner and fair economy, the stable income and almost-ensured entrance are dragging you and your family follow this route.

However, in this case, my friend desires to be a violinist in the future. Just to share she even applied for transferal to CUHK Music Department but unfortunately she was rejected because of the stupid school policy on nursing bachelor degree. This again depicts the helplessness and disappointment while we are facing our desires and the reality.

Family – you are EXPECTED to be our daughter/son (APA)

This picture shows the pressure inputted by our parents. The shadows are symbolizing parents and the setting of a girl sitting at a dark corner is to show the fear and hopelessness. Tiger mums or helicopter parents are more and more prevailing in the world, especially in a competitive society like Hong Kong. Situation that parents are taking their babies to learn French when they were 1-year-old are not unique. High expectation are implemented on us which is causing tremendous mental pressure. When you are facing your dearest persons, can we have a say?

The second picture shows our own expectation and desires on ourselves. I have a dream.  Everyone has their own thoughts, interests and dreams. Smiles are shown if we could be released from others’ expectation and be able to strive for our dreams.

Love- you are EXPECTED to be heterosexual

I want to bring out the stereotype of the society on love issues. People are expected to fall in love with the opposite sex and then get married. Lots of traditions and taboo towards homosexuality and even in Hong Kong, a so called open-minded cosmopolitan city, explicit and implicit discrimination still exists.

And in the second picture, when the society turns off the light, we love with no fear. What we truly want is to love, beloved and nothing to hide.

Success- you are EXPECTED to succeed

The first picture are talking about pressure of expected to be success. In this care my friend has been learning ballet for more than 10 years and she was required, by teachers, parents and peers, to get the championship in every competitions. Success is defined by the amount of trophies you received.

However, from the bottom of her heart, she just want to dance and perform. She enjoys the moments of dancing, the movement under the spotlights on the stage, the time burying herself into music, like a ballet doll which could dance fearlessly and brilliant.