Participating in Sculptural Rebirth 脱皮的彫刻 by Tadasu Takamine was a deeply transformative experience. The piece, which brings together sculpture and performance in a truly experimental way, invited us to explore the symbolic act of shedding a skin that no longer fits in order to make space for something new. As a sculpture student at Emily Carr University, it was incredibly powerful to embody this idea through movement, dialogue, and introspection.

Working under Takamine’s direction—an artist known for approaching complex topics through deeply personal lenses—pushed me to reflect on how art can serve as a meaningful tool for emotional release and human connection. The structure of the performance—first engaging in conversation with the audience, then entering a space of solitude, and finally emerging into a collective rebirth—allowed me to not just represent an emotional process, but to experience it.

This collaboration between the Vancouver Art Gallery and Emily Carr reaffirmed for me the value of using personal experience to speak to broader human themes. It was an honour to be part of the Canadian premiere of this piece, and I know it will continue to shape how I think about performance, sculpture, and the role of the body in art.