Yimei(Emair) Zhu
E·F·B·P
- 2023
- Yarn, Plants, -16 Diopter Eyeglass Lenses, Wax, Metal
- Interactive installation
"E-F-B-P" is part of my "Low Vision" series, which delves into personal vision issues as well as the broader visual, cultural and historical context. The installation provides the viewer with a close-up view of visual challenges. It is similar to a telescope, but to truly "see" requires the help of another person to highlight the blurred, partially obscured world through a -16 diopter lens. "E-F-B-P emphasizes not only the biological nature of vision, but also its evolving nature in society. It prompts reflection on the power dynamics of viewing and being viewed and the use of vision as a control mechanism. In our age of distorted information, it questions the authenticity of our perceptions and what it means to control "vision".
Other works about low-vision:
"E·F·B·P" is a part of my “Low Vision” series, not just a narrative about my personal vision issues but a deeper exploration and challenge into sight, culture, and history.
My everyday visual experience is accompanied by floaters and severe myopia. EFBP (letters often used in eye exams) offers viewers an intimate pathway to understand and empathize with such visual challenges. Ophthalmologists often remind us that basking in the calmness of green can help soothe the eyes, but for someone with hereditary severe myopia like me, the gradual deterioration of vision is irreversible.
How do we define clear vision? What is true perception? Do we really see everything, or just parts that the object of our sight wishes to reveal? And when we view something with doubt or pity - like the blind prophets in Greek mythology(Tiresias) or Gloucester in Shakespeare's “King Lear” - tends to be more accommodated. Yet, "E·F·B·P" emphasizes, do we truly provide enough support for the visually impaired, or do we merely cater to their needs on the periphery?
This installation, once expanded, resembles a funnel, akin to telescopes and those delightful kaleidoscopes from our childhood. Unlike traditional telescopes or toys, to truly "see" through it, one requires the assistance of another. Through the -16 diopter lenses, the world revealed is blurry, unfocused, distorted, and obscured.
As my vision dims further, who will hold my lens to the world?
It's commonly believed that our sight is the most direct and truest capture of reality. However, vision is not just a biological function; it's also a product of culture and history. For instance, during the Renaissance, the discovery of linear perspective changed how artists depicted space and depth. In the 20th century, the advent of photography and cinema redefined how we capture and present reality. "E·F·B·P" reminds us that vision isn't a fixed concept, but evolves with time, culture, and technology.
"E·F·B·P" represents introspection, perhaps a premonition or a quest. When presentation requires the aid of others, it strongly suggests that my "view" could be shaped and directed by others. Delving deeper into the power dynamics of “seeing” and “being seen”, vision is seen as a mechanism of power, used for surveillance and control. "E·F·B·P", needing others to clearly see, cleverly showcases this power relationship.
In an era filled with "fake news" and information wars, how much of our "sight" is genuine, and how much is distorted or manipulated? The design of "E·F·B·P" evokes memories of the age of exploration, where indigenous communities were often sacrificed for territorial expansion. These telescopes weren't just for stargazing but symbolized power, control, and colonization. Isn’t controlling "vision" also a form of ideological expansion?