“I hold my breath...” series

Both Chinese calligraphy and lamp-working are a highly focused process that requires the person to be mindful of their present. During the process, I become very sensitive to my state of mind and my body sensations, as it easily reflects on my hand and then transfer to the work. I calligraphy the first letter that comes to my mind, contemplate the definition of the letter and how I emotionally connect to them. I would then go on a much slower process to transform these shapes into glass. When my breath and my hands come together into one, the control of my wrists engages my conscious rhythmic inhalation and exhalation which is perfectly reflected in my lamp- working practice—a glass making process that requires engagement of mind, breath and hand manipulation. From narrative texts to abstract shapes, the sensory experience transitioned into the transparent glass strokes.

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Wu is an emerging artist base in Adelaide who was born and raised in China. Wu spent her early years in her home city Dongguan, Hong Kong and London, where cultivated her multi cultural and linguistic background.

Inspired by her aromatherapy training in Hong Kong, she goes on the journey of healing through meditative making and sensory experience in the creative process. With strong interest in art as therapy, Wu’s exploration is to help her understand her female body, her diverse cultural identity, her path of migration as well as her childhood memory.

Wu’s practice has a focus on contemporary jewellery and sculptural object making by using glass, silicone, stone, ceramic, metal and found object, through various crafting skills such as lamp-woking, moulding and casting, metalsmithing and stone caving.

Wu graduated from Master of Design program (Contemporary Art) University of South Australia (2019), where she was awarded the FELTspace Graduate Award. Wu is also the winner of 2021 SALA festival City Rural Emerging Artist award and the recipient of the Canberra Glassworks (ACT) Graduate In Resident 2021. Her graduate works were selected by the Helpmann Graduate exhibition and she was shortlisted in MilanoVetro-35 Glass Prize (2020) in Italy and National Emerging Art glass Prize (2020) in Australia.

Wu's studio is situated in Fleurieu Arthouse in the beautiful wine region at McLaren Vale in Fleurieu Peninsular.