Emily Zou

I am a queer Canadian-Chinese multimedia artist. My art practice explores the intersection of climate awareness and mental health. I create intricate small to large-scale sculptures of found objects to confront material waste and unsustainable consumerism. Through sourcing my materials from community donations, close connections, and the street, I give trash a new life.

Beginning in 2020, during the pandemic, I realized that my apartment had become a pigsty. To declutter my apartment, rather than toss the mess, I played with the mess. I used string to tie objects together and this physical act of tying became an obsessive outlet for my anxiety. These works are capsules of the chaotic emotional energy felt during their creation. A metaphor for transformation, change, and healing, trash is upcycled and takes on a new life. I hope to spark dialogue with people about their stories and experiences with mental health. I want to inspire people to see their darkness as a source of strength and challenge what we define as “trash.”