PORFOLIO MINGHUI MAI


1.THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF SHADOW

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2. 2.DEFINE BY THE FRAME

3.Taste of Thought

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2. 4.THE HAND OF REBIRTH
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5.MYSTERY

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   6.THE MIRROR

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   7.THIS IS A WALL

8.DOOR

9.THREADS OF THE PAST

10.HOUSE AS HEAD

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Defined by the Frame

Materials: Scanned Facial Image, Edited in Photoshop, Picture Frame

Form: Mixed Media Photo, 2024


"Defined by the Frame" is an experimental work explored through a printer, which contains my face and hands, and a photo frame with a transparent plastic sheet. This technique requires no complicated manipulation, just the arrangement of movements and expressions during the scanning process. This process not only captures the static beauty of the portrait,but also creates a unique tension between the fixed boundaries of the frame and the human expression. The composition is deliberately 'trapped', with the face occupying the left side of
the frame, while the hand on the right and the white space creates the impact of the image. In terms of color, I have deliberately emphasized the blush and lipstick colors, which contrast with the highlights created by the printer's lighting, adding layers to the overall image.

The work explores the boundaries of the body as it interacts with its environment and the state of mind of the person within the confines of the body. This glass-like effect produced through the plastic sheet creates a dual symbol that is both a cage of entrapment and a protective film. It reflects a universal feeling - the feeling of being confined and bound while struggling for survival and yearning for freedom. This escape can be physical, mental or even emotional.

This work can be interpreted as a commentary on the individual self-identity in contemporary society, even if it makes no explicit reference to any historical or creative work. It is reminiscent of contemporary art that examines social identity, loneliness, and the self.

The invention was motivated by a social media craze where individuals are recording their self-images with scanners. Through this unconventional method of portraiture, I have experimented with new kinds of self-expression and investigated the connection between
contemporary technology and artistic expression.

It is my hope that this work will resonate with viewers who feel trapped in their lives, or who are psychologically stressed. Through this extreme expression, viewers may feel the amplification of their own emotions or situations and find a way to release and empathize with them.

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