Po Shui Jie (2025)
Sound-reactive art
I’m an artist who grew up in China, and I titled this piece of sound-reactive art "Po Shui Jie." This title, derived from Chinese pinyin, refers to the Water Splashing Festival, which is celebrated annually in Southeast Asia to mark the arrival of the new year. I have been aware of this festival since I was young, and many of my Chinese friends travel to Southeast Asia to participate. However, I have not had the chance to go myself yet.
For me, splashing water on each other symbolizes friendship and the hope for a fresh start. It represents leaving behind the weariness of the past and welcoming new beginnings. While we may shower alone in our daily lives, during this festival, we can come together to shower in celebration. The communal aspect of Po Shui Jie is both heartwarming and soothing.
This piece was created for an event in Melbourne honoring Po Shui Jie. The digital art is designed to react to the surrounding sounds and illustrates water splashing. It also captures the imagery of dancers spinning, the trajectory of drummers' sticks, and people practicing Tai Chi martial arts, along with intertwining phoenixes.
I employed three primary colors for this piece: red, gold, and deep pink. Red and gold are commonly seen in decorations and posters for Po Shui Jie, while deep pink represents my feelings for Melbourne as a vibrant, multicultural city.