Theo Liu Coonan
he/him
Chinese Whispers, New False Histories and Lost Futures
My project originated from the idea of 'Chinese Whispers'—the gradual distortion of messages over time. Being half-Chinese, half-Irish, and having lived in Ireland my entire life, I’ve often felt a disconnect from aspects of my Chinese heritage and my family's history. While researching Chinese dress from the 1900s for my thesis, I asked my grandparents for old photographs. These images sparked a deeper curiosity and brought forward more questions than answers.
This project became a physical representation of this initial lack of knowledge, and of how easily cultural history can fade or become distorted.
Throughout the project, I’ve explored traditional garments, reimagining them with unconventional materials or intentionally incorrect construction techniques. I’ve also employed graphic methods to distort images and messages, further emphasising themes of miscommunication, loss, and reinterpretation.
I explore the tension between new false histories and lost futures, questioning how memories are preserved, distorted, or forgotten.
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Research