Type: Zine
Year: 2024 The EAR is an earring zine that deconstructs and analyzes my Mandarin name, telling a story of identity, family bonds, and personal growth. By combining the left part of my family name 陳 (Chen) with the right part of my mother’s family name 郭 (Kuo), the shape of the radical “ear” (阝) has become a meaningful symbol for my family—and it’s also the design of the tattoo on my right upper arm. A name is both a blessing from one’s family and an invisible guide throughout life.
When I was little, I didn’t like the character “柔” (róu) in my name. It means gentle and soft, which felt completely opposite to my personality. However, my close friends started calling me Roro, Ro, or Roing, all playing on the “rou” sound in different ways. And, it gradually became my favorite part of my name, and maybe, just maybe, I’ve become a little gentler too.