This piece investigates the intersections of faith, authority, and human desire—how belief systems shape not only the mind but also the body and the spaces it occupies. Drawing from cultural practices where superstition and spirituality quietly shape daily life, the work reflects on rituals, gestures, and the psychological structures built around reverence and submission.

Southern China offers a cultural landscape where spiritual practices coexist with everyday routines. Altars, often placed high on walls, compel acts of looking up, reinforcing hierarchies between the divine and the human. These spatial and bodily dynamics raise questions about whether prayer invokes external forces or functions as a tool for self-reassurance and agency. Observations of religious rituals also reveal contradictions. While many shops and restaurants pray to the God of Wealth for prosperity, ethical compromises—serving unclean dishes or low-quality food—highlight tensions between devotion and morality. Such examples reflect how faith can both comfort and unsettle, exposing the complexities of human need and belief.

The 1.8-meter-tall (5’10”) structure draws from these rituals. Its scale enforces a posture of looking up, replicating the spatial and physical dynamics of religious ceremonies. A kneeling cushion encourages further bodily engagement, inviting gestures of submission and reflection. Yet, the absence of a deity leaves the space deliberately unresolved, amplifying questions about faith, authority, and human agency.

Materials, Construction, and Symbolism

This semester involved extensive research into the structures and techniques of classical Chinese furniture, as well as how these methods can be adapted and reinterpreted in contemporary contexts. The structure is built almost entirely with dovetail joints—a hallmark of Chinese woodworking emphasizing strength, durability, and precision without nails or screws. These connections, historically associated with permanence and craftsmanship, echo themes of faith and continuity.

The base adopts a framed-panel structure (攒框装板) often found in Ming dynasty furniture. This construction highlights balance and stability, reinforced by a through-dovetail brace(穿带) along the top plate, further securing the structure. The four legs are locked using multi-directional dovetail joints, which distribute tension evenly and provide additional statibility against enviremental changes. The lowest frame incorporates box-style dovetail joints, combined with a fitted panel that “embraces” the legs. This creates a stable, interlocking framework designed to remain upright even if the joints loosen over time.

Assembly requires a specific sequence—each piece must interlock in order; disassembly follows the same careful process, allowing for future repairs. Hot hide glue is used throughout, a traditional adhesive valued for its reversibility and long-term repairability. This focus on modular construction and restoration contrasts sharply with the disposability of modern manufacturing, emphasizing longevity, preservation, and the ability to endure time—qualities often associated with faith and ritual.

Wenge, commonly used in southern China for utensils and household items, introduces a layer of personal familiarity—an everyday material embedded in memory. In contrast, black walnut’s ability to release toxins into surrounding soil evokes themes of exclusion and dominance, reflecting how belief systems can both nurture and suppress. These material choices highlight cultural associations with function, symbolism, and authority.

Silk velvet, historically linked to royalty and religious garments, introduces another layer of ritual and symbolism. Through devoré, a 19th-century French technique that selectively removes cellulose fibers, the fabric reveals hidden patterns. Inspired by confessional partitions, these patterns evoke concealment and confession—acts of hiding and revealing that echo the psychological complexity of faith and guilt. The labor-intensive process reflects the devotion often associated with rituals, transforming the fabric into a metaphor for introspection and vulnerability.

Design, Movement, and Fragility

The design balances strength with fragility. Initially intended to have slender legs to reflect the precarious balance between violence and love often found in religious narratives, the structure evolved into a more imposing form to support its weight. Sharp spikes at the top disrupt the smooth lines, introducing aggression and tension. These elements highlight faith’s duality—offering sanctuary while imposing restraint, providing comfort yet carrying the potential for harm.

Faith, whether anchored in external systems or internal conviction, is often enacted through movement, repetition, and structure—acts that shape perception and leave lasting imprints on both body and mind.