Yaqi Lan

“Connection” is a wooden board painting of human relationships. It consists of seven wooden panels. The central figure in the image is me, and the left side represents my inner world, while the right side represents my external connections or social network. The black silhouette of the city in the background represents society, which carries human connections. The red line connecting me to the various elements in the image symbolizes the connection between me and those elements.

I used a theoretical basis published by Ichiro Kawachi and Lisa F. Berkman in 2001 to measure the closeness of interpersonal relationships. The closer the relationship, the closer it is to the center. The strangers around me are represented by multiple faces with similar features, while classmates and friends are represented by three girls closer to the center. The closest friends and family are represented by the side of someone’s face and ears we see when we hug them.

The left half of the picture represents my inner world, which is a private domain. The staircase and red door frame represent the threshold to enter my inner world, which connects to all things in the world, such as animals, toys, and objects. The countless red lines in the image represent the diverse emotional connections that humans have with each other, connecting independent individuals and weaving them into the social network of human society.

This artwork emphasizes the importance of human relationships, both internal and external. It demonstrates that the connections we make with others are crucial in shaping our lives and who we are. I want to encourages us to recognize the value of these connections and to strive to build and maintain them throughout our lives.