Cat's Paradise
Cat's Paradise
~ ~ One cute little fishie ~ ~
Was swimming in the sea of blue
Then it met another fishie
And then there were two!
Splish splash splish splash
Fishies swimming in the sea
Splish splash splish splash
~ ~ Little fishies in the sea ~ ~
The first day of the Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that appears between 21 January and 20 February. Fish is always part of the New Year's dinner because it represents abundance.
In the past two years, I couldn't spend Chinese New Year with my family, I want to use it to show my best wishes to them.
Research—Origami
Fish origami is more than just a fun paper-folding craft; it carries significant cultural symbolism and practical applications.
Prosperity and Abundance: In many cultures, especially in Asian societies, fish symbolize abundance and wealth. Creating origami fish is often associated with wishes for prosperity.
Fertility and Growth: Due to their prolific breeding habits, fish can symbolize fertility and growth, making fish origami a common gift for newlyweds or expecting parents.
Good Luck: Fish, especially koi fish, are considered symbols of good luck and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Peace and Harmony: The gentle and graceful movements of fish in the water can symbolize peace and harmony, making fish origami a soothing decoration or gift.
Sketch
I intended to create an installation inspired by an ancient Chinese allusion to “Kun”. The story illustrates a mystical fish that is thousands of miles long. I am obsessed with its freedom to fly in the air or swim under the sea. Therefore, the installation catches a glimpse of the imaginary paradise where gigantic fish are flowing in the air and a black cat, a personalization of me, is spinning with joy.
Working Progress
Laser Cut - Gears/Box
I experimented with various types of paper to evaluate their durability, gloss, and availability, alongside testing two different methods for folding fish. Unfortunately, some of the fish didn't survive the process of being attached to the gears. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you; your support and guidance will always be remembered with deep gratitude (teary-eyed).
I used laser cutting to make many acrylic gears, which a single motor can move, making cats, flowers, and fish spin at different speeds. I made the designs with Adobe Illustrator and showed them on two acrylic boards. Even though some pieces broke and laser cutting didn't work as well as I hoped, after several tries, I managed to make five gears that work well.
Origami - Fishes/Cat/Flower
Code
There are in total two states for my installation. Firstly, the staging light is silver, and greyish white, which represents the tranquil surface of a small lake near my childhood neighborhood, accompanied by a piano sonota NO. 1 in F minor. The “actors” are still and seem to listen to the diegetic sound as well. The second state is more dynamic; the light changes to dark turquoise and slowly transitions to light teal. As the color changes, it adds a naturalistic aspect to the installation as actors are moving and lights mimic the water in late summer. Everything became alive from that small segment of time.
Project Demonstration
