Pale Shoulders

Year:
Materials:

Dimension:
2024
Watercolor, pencil, masking fluid on paper
18” x 24”

Year:
Materials:

Dimension:
2024
Watercolor, pencil, masking fluid on paper
18” x 24”
“When they see short sleeves, they see pale shoulders, then immediately they see genitals, then they see intercores, then they see a bastard.” — Lu Xun, 1900s

The watercolor drawing on paper of snails crawling all over a naked shoulder wearing one spaghetti strap. The quote written on top and bottom of the painting is from a Chinese author from 100 years ago writing about the correlation and sexualization people’s imagination draws. The snails with the slime intended to show the gaze that sexualizes shoulders both on eastern and western sides of the world. The baby hair and spaghetti strap with a bow represent a sense of innocence and vulnerability.




© 2024 Yingzhe (Boo) Chen
NYC, NY