Experimental nominee

Model: Shiyajie
The female rage, defiance, catharsis, and will power. Sword in hand, body ablaze in divine strength. Not only do we stare directly at our realities, we act as transformative forces that change our realities. I was searching for a poetic way that represents the female rage and rebellion without excessive nods to violence. The sun that our planet revolves around has strong male connotations, it also acts as the placeholder of "truth" in Plato's cave analogy. I wanted to emphasize how women can and have confronted the system that is designed against us. Thus, the assassination of the sun.

I am working on my BFA in Painting at Rhode Island School of Design. I am a multi-disciplinary artist who also does filmmaking, has her own 3D printed jewelry brand, a UI/UX designer and game designer. As a queer artist who grew up in Shanghai, I've made it a mission of mine to introduce a more diverse array of representations of female and queer presence in male-dominated fields and challenge current, problematic narratives. I work predominantly in portraitures, with a blend of analog and digital retouching techniques that allows me to rethink photography as image-making in a painterly manner.
ARFF Berlin/International Official Monthly Selection for "Best Student Film"
Independent Shorts Awards finalist
"Best Student Film" in California Indies
Montreal Independent Film Festival Selection
Labelhood Youtopia Runway Show 2021
"Miscellaneous" Group Exhibition in Wison Art Museum
"2021" curator of group show for SHSID Art Club with Labelhood Youtopia and Part