A New Poem
2015, digital video, 0:47
A New Poem is a short video inspired by Emily Dickinson’s poem If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking. I first encountered its Chinese translation, which left a profound impression on me. Even years later, the poem stayed with me, urging me to create something that resonates with its message.
Poetry typically communicates through words and sentences, guiding the brain to construct scenes and derive meanings. However, A New Poem seeks to deconstruct this traditional approach, offering viewers a fresh, untethered experience. By breaking down familiar elements, the work invites spectators to explore untouched layers of emotion and interpretation—beyond what the words initially convey.
The original:
If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking by Emily Dickinson
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
Exhibited:
Oct 19, 2015, Pratt DDA Gallery, Brooklyn, NY 11238, USA