This work was produced during a "Artist in Residence" at Organhaus Art Space in Chongqing, China.
Chongqing is one of the biggest cities in the world with a population over 30 million.
How does that effect your identity and how do you show your personality?
In old China how you styled your hair told a lot about your social status,by constructing hair-hats and use the traditional hair-pin ceremony we wanted to learn more about the people living in Chongqing.
The hair-hats was based on traditional Chinese symbolism where different animals represent different features in the human character.
We later invited local people in all ages and from all parts of society to a photo studio where we arranged new hair-pin ceremonies.
50 people participated, they were asked to choose the hair-hat with the symbolism they felt had
the most accurate description of themselves.
A Crab - Benefit in business and prosperity
A Pig - Tolerance and optimism
A Lion - Courage and strength
A Horse - Speed and perseverance
A Magi pie - Marriage and nesting
A Goldfish - Abundance of gold
A Peacock - Dignity, beauty and fame
The participant was photographed wearing the hat.
Our first impression of the person determined which photograph we later choose to exhibit.
Collaboration with Bettina Hvidevold Hystad
