Chiaroscuro

Artist Statement

"Plush is suffering": one of the many running jokes in the plush community, an internet role-playing and meme-generating subculture where users pick a character from an anime or video game, and make dumb memes out of. I was Sailor Moon Plush and among the many plush friends I made online, Rei Plush and Minako Plush were the two I cherished most. do u kno wht sufferng is (2022) is my official farewell to the community and to Rei Plush and Minako Plush because we're unable to be in contact with each other anymore. The video ends with a face and name reveal in hopes that they could say hi to me if they ever see my face in public. There are two versions of this video that play one after another. Version 1 is catered to those who are familiar with or a part of the plush community. Version 2 is meant to be catered to those who aren't, but ironically makes it more confusing for them and more relatable to the first audience.

Rei Plush blew up as a meme after we left the community and can be seen all over the internet, especially Amazon reviews for the actual plush. In these reviews, you will see that she is physically abused which is one of the many reasons why "plush is suffering."

This idea is translated into the two other pieces 2 Plushies, 2 Punching Bags (2022) and VENUS SUFFERING (Mirror) with stock flame video from Youtube.com (Pixelated) (2022). The title 2 Plushies, 2 Punching Bags parodies an old internet meme and viral shock scat video "2 girls 1 cup" It raises the question as to why Rei Plush is so punchable. She is suspended the same way the Everlast punching bag is next to her. The sand from the punching bag is removed from the bag and is replaced by old fabrics to give it a plush-like sensation when punched. So, is the punching bag still fun to punch when it flies up after each punch? Probably not. So why do people find enjoyment from punching Rei Plush? She wasn't made for this.

In VENUS SUFFERING (Mirror) with stock flame video from Youtube.com (Pixelated) Minako Plush is attached to a wall looking at a TV of herself in the midst of pixelated flames. The video and install slightly renders Nam June Paik's TV Buddha in a cute and laughable way. This piece specifically aims towards self-reflection and how this suffering community is really meant for the internet and on screen. The behavior that is examined within these communities are not commonly brought outside of the digital space - so this is my attempt to do so by connecting the two.

This memorial is installed in a way where all the cables are exposed, but they simply exist as a visual representation of transferring signals to create the images on screen, once again reinforcing the idea of bringing an idea that belongs in the digital world to a physical space. It's a memorial for my friends Rei Plush and Minako Plush and all the other wonderful plushies I met online. To the plushies: I miss you and I hope to meet you again one day.

VENUS SUFFERING (Mirror) with stock flame video from Youtube.com (Pixelated), 2022

do u kno wht sufferng is, 2022

2 Plushies 2 Punching Bags, 2022

Installation shot

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