Do we truly see others for who they are, or do we see projections of ourselves?

 

Created in the post-pandemic era, GAZE is rooted in my reflection on the theory of the looking-glass self and my experience of living through a time marked by fragmentation, ideological conflict, and disconnection. The practice aims to investigate the complex relationship between self-consciousness and our perception of others.

 

After the world has endured endless antagonism and absolute chaos, I’ve come to realize that the fragmentation and clash of ideologies can become a dazzling force. It blinds us, distorts us, wounds us. When we gaze at others, we don’t see a real human being—we see a reflection of ourselves. Otherness becomes a mirror; our self-consciousness, an intense glare. It’s as if an invisible curtain hangs between us. A real connection is never truly made.

 

我们所见的是真实的他者，还是自我的投射？

 

《凝视》这件影像装置作品植根于“镜中自我”理论，它诞生于后疫情时代，也回应了身处后疫情时代的反思。作为一种影像实践，它试图探索人们的自我觉知与对他人感知之间的关系，通过融合移动图像、声音、和反光材料来表达“凝视”的意象。

 

在这个世界经历了无尽的对抗和混乱之后，作者逐渐意识到意识形态的分裂和斗争可以是强烈的灼眼的光芒，它使我们盲目，使我们模糊；它伤害我们，又让我们浑然不觉。当我们凝视他人时，我们看到的不是一个真实的人，而是自我的投射，就像我们之间有一道无形的帷幕，真正的连接从未被建立。