Shannanlin Gao

About

“Gender perspectives, once acquired, are difficult to relinquish.”

Shannanlin Gao (b. 2001) draws her artistic practices from her personal growth experiences. She consistently views the traditional Chinese family model from a reflective and critical perspective. With a dual academic background in fine arts and English, she employs sculpture, painting, writing, and photography as her primary mediums. Her work delves into themes such as matriarchy permeated by patriarchy (Gentle Knives, 2024); the multifaceted roles of motherhood in Chinese society (Wonder Mother, 2022);  and the mother-daughter relationships (Unspoken Words, 2022) and Women’s Writing (The Obedient Wives River, 2022). These works are interrelated, with each piece annotating the others as they unfold, embodying a continuous process of research and creation.

Scissors

Scissors are a simple mechanical tool that use the principle of leverage. The person holding the scissors holds the power to cut the object under the blade.

Scissors have two sharp, beveled blades, which can also cut the hand of the person using them if they are not careful.

Scissors are domestic tools.

Women mend the bodies of their family members, sewing and trimming their clothes.

Scissors use their sharpness to do gentle work.

Scissors are also a weapon. In TV dramas, women use scissors to stab their husbands in the throat, a group of people hatefully cut off the long hair of the most beautiful girl in town with scissors, and a suicidal woman casually picks up scissors from the table and holds them at her neck with the sharpest blades.

Scissors just like…