Xuezhen Liu

Unassuming jujubes, 2023

Modeling Clay, Air Dry Clay, Paper Lunch Bag, Lunch Bag Zipper, Acrylic Painting, Wood Stick

Liu's artwork delves into the memories of their relationship with their parents. Communication between them was not frequent, especially with their mother, for whom feeding her child was always the most important thing.

The gift of Jujubes, as companions throughout Xuechen's journey abroad, has witnessed
the tender buds of their growth, nurtured by the soil of family love. The Big Jujube is engraved with
various forms of the word 'love' and some words their mother often repeats (mostly related to eating).

The golden cracks symbolize the Jujube's natural texture and the traces of time. 'Unassuming
Jujubes' stands as a tribute to the unspoken language of love that surpasses distance and time.

As an immigrant, many of Xuechen Liu's works are inspired by memories of their homeland and childhood. They utilize food as a medium to both reflect traditional culture and convey personal emotions.