- SHOCK-SAFE
- SHOCK
- UNDER MY SKIN
- GAZE
- GREY DREAM
- FRAGMENTS
- FLORAL NERVESCAPE
- THE DOOR THAT CANT CLOSE
- THE CELL LAND
- CHOLOROPHYII
- VEINS OF THE MIRROR
- PINK CORAL
- TD PRACTICE
ABOUT
SHOCK
Experimental short film, 1min22 seconds
Shock is part of my personal experimental video project, aiming to explore the cultural shock I experienced when I first arrived in Edinburgh as an international student, and the resulting physical and mental stress responses. The work is rooted in a real bodily experience—during my first semester, I suffered from frequent coughing and took a large amount of anti-inflammatory medication, which triggered allergic purpura. This caused internal bleeding in my limbs and organs, along with intense abdominal pain. Despite the severity of the condition, I had to wait over three hours in the emergency room without receiving timely treatment. This experience became the starting point for the work and revealed the body’s intense immune reaction to unfamiliar environments.
The video is visually based on red stone clay sculptures I created by hand. These forms imitate diseased skin textures—blisters, ulcers, and mutated surfaces—symbolizing the collapse of the skin as the body’s first line of defense, and suggesting the breakdown of internal coping mechanisms during cultural adaptation. I collaged these sculptures with images of my own face and used digital editing to construct a sense of discomfort, producing a visual language of persistent anxiety. The style was inspired by German artist PedroGonzález’s Emorgi at the Emoji Orgy, particularly his experimental treatment of facial textures, which had a strong impact on me. Beyond its experimental visual language, the video incorporates symbolic silhouettes of common issues faced by international students—hair loss, hives, insomnia—alongside feelings of confusion and emotional suppression. Through mirror imagery, layering, and rhythmic repetition, Shock attempts to draw the viewer into a state of physical unease, reflecting my deep observations on cultural adaptation disorders, limited access to healthcare, and the imbalance of psychological pressure.
I hope this short film not only evokes empathy for the experiences of international students, but also prompts deeper public reflection on the need for greater psychological and medical support for those studying abroad.