Reflection and Rising by FionaFei

Reflection

Yesterday I visited the installations Reflection and Rising created by FionaFei at her Shiu Mo Gallery. I was impressed, love at first sight. 

Fiona creates using shuimo (ink wash painting, an ancient form of art found in East Asia) a mystifying black and white 3D world that soothes the mind. 

Her bio mentions the following:

As a Chinese American, the Shui Mo series is my way of not only connecting with my ancestry, but it's also a way for me to celebrate centuries of art and old masters who painted in this beautiful art style. I wanted to take full advantage of Second Life's virtual environment to provide a new perspective on this traditional art style by adding depth, making what has traditionally always been portrayed as 2D pieces into 3D art. When the viewer looks into the art, they are looking into a 3D space, and depending on the angle they are viewing it from, the art changes.

the entrance area

There are two separate installations/rooms you can enter: Reflection (shown above) and Rising: an accusation against abuse/rape of women all over the world. These two installations are connected by a large entrance area in the middle, which by itself is worthwhile exploring. For instance try the different poses on top of the umbrellas. Here you also find information about the designer and there is a lovely gift: an umbrella and a koi fish, which you both can wear.

with gift umbrella on a pose in the entrance hall

Rising is a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on earth will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. That’s one billion women. 

Rising

In this installation Fiona tries to capture the moment when a person who has endured rape, sexual abuse, or violence of any kind finally breaks free of the pain that they've experienced, be it physical or emotional. The rising hand-drawn particles of women floating up is a literal interpretation of "one billion rising". When you click the information giver in this room you receive the particles of rising women as a gift (particle typer).

AND, I had the pleasure yesterday evening to meet Josef K. in Reflection, both being dressed in black, we fitted well into the surroundings. We agreed 'Reflection' reminded us vaguely of a Chinese minimal place created in black and white in SL, which existed years ago. I went there often, so did he.

meeting Josef K