Usual, Unusual
Shan Jiang
The focal point of my final project is a series of artistic photographs that feature my Ball Joint Dolls (BJD). Titled 'Usual, Unusual', this collection is a natural continuation of a previously executed feminist-related project that I captured in my second year. 'Usual, Unusual' is characterized by the usual scene setting and unusual elements. Within this project lies a plethora of memories, encompassing my formative years, personal experimentation, and self-restoration. Photography is renowned for its ability to unveil the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary, and 'Usual, Unusual' is a compilation of everyday occurrences that illuminate the idiosyncratic details of my recollections. For me, this endeavor represents an introspective journey that encompasses the exploration of my memories and self-awareness.
As a doll collector, I give them names, personalities, and stories. In my wishful thinking, the dolls have integrity. I make up for my lack of completeness by projecting incomplete parts of my childhood onto the dolls. But illusions are always easy to shatter. As I take them apart and then put them back together again, I witness myself creating a dream and then breaking it. It seems cruel, but it is also therapeutic at the same time.
