Week 01_On/Off Experiment
The act of turning off my laptop and phone was not difficult in itself, yet it left a subtle void in my life. The moment that I closed all my electronics, I suddenly realized how constantly I was influenced by information and notifications.
During this time, I found myself unable to calm down. The absence of electronics began to make me restless. I subconsciously sought new stimulation, only to discover that all I had at hand were the most ordinary household items. I realized it had been ages since I would truly observed the objects around me or even myself. Finally, I picked up a nearby mirror and began to examine myself.
I used the mirror at hand to observe myself, completing an abstract self-portrait. The mirror became a low-tech yet intensely direct medium, which is no filters, no delays, and no optimization of my expressions. I had to stare at my own face for extended periods, noting subtle shifts: the drift of my gaze, the tension and release of muscles, and how emotions emerged and faded within my expressions.
During the painting process, I did not pursue perfect realism but focused instead on “how I see myself in this moment”. This self-portrait is more like a record, which is a record of my state when I directly encountered myself after stepping away from the digital environment. This process allowed me to re-observe myself and rebuild my relationship with my own being. This self-portrait reminds me: in daily life, where technology constantly distracts us, focus itself is a skill that needs to be relearned.

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