Muyan Gao

My work typically use recycled paper to make paper mâché as the main material, completed through repeated manual shaping, cutting, painting, and other processes. This is a slow but enjoyable process where I use the material’s characteristics to gradually shape it into uncertain forms. In this process, half is exploration and half is expression, resulting in delicate and unique individual objects that can be either small or large freestanding pieces. My work combines sculpture and functionality, creating forms through both intentional and unintentional actions. By exploring the material, weight, size, color, and texture, I attempt to understand how the physical world, which is usually imperceptible to humans, subtly shapes our experiences. The concept of "upcycling" is integral to my work, transforming discarded or seemingly useless materials into new, valuable creations. By repurposing materials that might otherwise become waste, the series highlights the potential beauty and functionality inherent in often overlooked or discarded objects, or serves as a metaphor for renewal.