"Smile" (2023) is a bronze sculpture that I created by using the lost wax casting process.
Life has different types of suffering: birth, aging, sickness, death, being apart from loved ones, not getting what one wants, etc. We might be cracking inside and silently cry, asking why. But no matter how big the waves are, no matter how much that hurts, and no matter how many holes and wounds are left, we can still smile and move forward.
Smile, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
The right bottom loose piece is a tiger eye raw crystal point stone, its symbolic meaning is to provide courage to go through difficulties. Here is to echo "Smile" provides courage to move forward.
The right base is cast by the traditional Chinese medicine herbs in a formula named Qingfei Paidu Decoction. This was one of the medicines that heal me 3 years ago for COVID. It highlighted the healing function, which hints that "Smile" could help to heal the pains after suffering.
The middle and top pieces are both cast from my face by using wax originally. Then they were cut, cracked, and sculptured to represent the cracking and crying beings in the sufferings, but have a smile to fight through.
The wave is to represent that life is up and down, we could smile and surf.