Zhichao Liu

Inspired by my personal experience, I've moved frequently since I was 12 due to my studies and my parents' work, living in five cities over ten years, often staying with relatives. Each move brings a blank white room—empty walls, shelves, and beds. The predominant whiteness both thrilled and unsettled me, symbolizing a fresh start but also bringing anxiety. The challenge is making this space truly mine. By filling the room with cherished quilts, familiar pillowcases, everyday stationery, and personal items, I transition from unfamiliarity to familiarity. These objects provide continuity and comfort, turning a blank canvas into a personal sanctuary.

I recreate familiarity by arranging items based on memory—the order of books on my shelf, the placement of my key. These rituals provide continuity amidst change, highlighting the complex emotions a white room evokes.

Central to my exploration is the quest to establish a sense of belonging—a space where utopian visions, physical realities, and personal memory converge. This endeavour raises complex questions: How do we forge connections with the spaces we inhabit? How do our senses and memories intertwine with these spaces, shaping our experiences within them? Spaces possess intricate relationships with us besides their material quality, influencing and being influenced by our presence. 

Through my practice, I aim to unveil the nuanced connections that define the dynamic relationship between personal experiences and spaces. I focus on retaining the central materials that resonate most with the space, using photographs to narrate the intricate interplay between human presence and the environment.