Reflection

My artwork is a wearable mask shaped like a goat skull, and the main theme behind it is "generational knowledge." It’s inspired by the difficult changes that nomadic people have to go through as they’re forced to adapt from their traditional ways of living to modern life. I built the basic structure using iron wire and aluminum foil, then covered it with clay and painted it with acrylic. There are holes in the mask where I added pieces of wood—these represent the painful way modern culture invades and damages nomadic traditions. To show that pain, I used red acrylic paint around the holes to symbolize blood. I also glued fake grass and little animals on the top of the mask to reflect the connection to grasslands and nature, which is a big part of nomadic life. This project is inspired by the Kazakh people in China. I grew up in a place where many Kazakhs live, including my own friends and family friends. Their lifestyle and traditions have always fascinated me, and I feel sad seeing how modern society is changing them in ways that aren’t always respectful or humane. I’ve been studying art since I was really young, and it’s always been a big part of my life.