AY’s vibe(work) check
*all titles are intended to be lower capital letters
forked tongue, 2024
︎ sound installation | live performance
'forked tongue' (2024) is a sound-interactive installation in the concept of playing a sculpture like an instrument. It is about the space between fragility and aggression, calm and menace, where emotional and sensory dualities converge.
more︎︎
indifferent, 2024
︎ performance | video, 31:08min
'indifferent' (2024) is a half-hour performance that critiques the consequences of avoidance and defense mechanisms. It explores the processes of hiding, protecting, recognizing, and recovering. Set within a liminal space, the installation features emotionless lighting and metal sculptures arranged to evoke the fragmented mental state of a bedroom, blurring the boundaries between physical and psychological furniture. more︎︎
beyond control, 2023
︎ interactive installation | sensory experience
'beyond control' (2023) is an interactive experience inspired by my nightly ritual of taking a birth control pill at 9:30 PM. Over time, the pill package has become more than just a tool for medication—it’s turned into a calendar, marking the passage of time. Each pill represents a day, and as the package empties, the pill itself becomes a tactile symbol of the day’s end and a reminder that time is always moving forward. more︎︎
send return, 2023
︎ solo exhibition | sound installation experience
'send return' (2023) is a solo exhibition about blurring boundaries, navigating softness, and negotiating fear. The work includes a large metal floor installation, two digital paintings, and a sound work. The gallery floor is covered in white vinyl to play off the large white walls. In this work, Cheng explores the intricacies of the inner self, constant fears about the danger of sharp metal objects, and an obsession with their glamorous and seductive textures. Emotions and conflicts between these feelings expand into visual and auditory experiences. more︎︎
so cliché, 2023
︎ interactive installation | video
'so cliché' (2023)
examines the impact of a society focused on avoiding pain in the quest for a painless existence. This culture of avoidance risks stripping away what it truly means to exist. Pain and joy are both integral to the human experience. Rather than fearing pain, society must recognize its importance and embrace the emotions it brings. more︎︎
'so cliché' (2023)
examines the impact of a society focused on avoiding pain in the quest for a painless existence. This culture of avoidance risks stripping away what it truly means to exist. Pain and joy are both integral to the human experience. Rather than fearing pain, society must recognize its importance and embrace the emotions it brings. more︎︎
concentrate, 2022
︎ interactive sound installation
'concentrate' (2022) is a sound installation exploring the idea of "imaginary space sound." Unlike my usual process, where the music I connect with inspires my visual art, this piece flips that approach. Here, I create a sound piece that reflects the spaces and fields in my paintings, imagining how these worlds might sound if they existed in nature. more︎︎
moon hits the mirrorball, 2022
︎ sound installation | sculpture
'moon hits the mirrorball' (2022) is a personal exploration of my relationship with underground rave scenes and techno music, combining sound with a series of handmade sculptures. Using materials like stainless steel, balloons, nails, epoxy resin, wire, metal chains, plastic wire cables, candles, and glass, the sculptures reflect the tension between the fragility of personal emotions and the raw, industrial energy of Techno. more︎︎
who’s to say what’s real, 2022
︎ solo exhibition
‘who’s to say what’s real’ (2022) is a solo exhibition featuring installation, digital UV prints, and a sound piece. The gallery space was kept in complete darkness for the duration of the exhibit, with viewers given flashlights to explore the works for an intimate and interactive experience. more︎︎
overflow, 2022
︎ interactive installation
‘overflow’ (2022) explores the tension between emotional vulnerability and the resilience we cultivate in response to life’s challenges. The work invites contemplation of the delicate yet powerful nature of our emotions, highlighting the interplay between our inner experiences and the external realities they shape. It’s a call to acknowledge and appreciate the profound connection between what we feel and how we perceive the world. more︎︎
© 2019 - 2025 AIYI CHENG
