Ro Jae Li is an artist born and raised in Hsinchu, Taiwan.
With a background in ceramics, she explores the extension of the body through sculptural garments.
She received her BFA in crafts and design at National Taiwan University of Arts and is currently pursuing an MDes in Fashion, Body, and Garment at the School of Art Institute of Chicago.
Thesis: Fruit
Fruit is the outcome of reproduction, a result of mating. It is also a beginning to a new life, protecting and nourishing seeds. Its aroma, sweetness and juiciness is seductive, lures others to eat it and through that it is brought to a place far from its roots, ready to start over again.
My relationship with my mother wasn’t the best growing up. But as I grew older and left home, I started to realize how much of my mother I see in myself, and how I’m gradually turning into her. The course of events I saw in the mirror: seeing myself in denial, seeing myself struggle to shake away her shadow, and at last, seeing myself accepting of her existence. I am the result of reproduction. Learning to accept that part of myself and through that trying to develop into a new self.
I create very intuitively, and see this as a way of self healing. Trying to learn and explore and accept myself more when I look back at my work. Being a very emotional and empathetic person, I feel like I can always connect and find common ground with others. We are all special in our own way but we are all the same at the same time. We are the products of reproduction, one small cell on this planet, one puzzle piece.
I see my work as a container for the body, and the body is the container for emotions.
Often starting with one vessel like object, repeated over and over again to put together a bigger vessel. The rhythm of repetition calms me down. The process of puzzling modules together is so fascinating, thinking about that everything in the universe is created with modules. We are all put together like puzzles and all of us created a bigger puzzle.
My emotions are easily influenced by the surroundings. They feel so overwhelmingly raw and powerful, I can’t help but feel like I’m a grain of sand in the strong ocean current that have lost control of my own body and the emotions have taken over. That feeling is what I am visualizing through my work. I find myself drawn to transparent materials, seeking the lightness and airiness that represent my emotions.
Seeing my work as a tool for healing, I would like my audience to feel my vulnerability and sensitivity when looking at them. Maybe reconnect to their own fragile side in their heart, and can find peace and clarity when they leave.