Memento has been developed out of research into the plight of illegal immigrants who often take great risks in the hope of living a more significant and meaningful life. Examples include snakes or ghosts, those Chinese who remain hidden in society (the tragedy that beset the cockle pickers), the Faujis from India as well as the burnt ones, young Moroccans, who perish while attempting to cross the Straight of Gibraltar. Memento is a walk-through installation and consists of ropes, cut silhouettes, sound and video. The hand tied configuration alludes to fishing nets, traps, security fences and engulfing waves. The network of patterns is also reminiscent of the human circulatory system, passageways and maps. The video shown within the structure depicts the artist negotiating the might of churning waves emphasizing human beings vulnerability as well as celebrating the strengths to confront and overcome difficulty. Memento is a continuation of Pien's ongoing interest in the otherworldly, invisibility, disappearance, and journeys. It poignantly reflects on the displaced, forgotten and unseen yet remains poetically open-ended, embracing multiple interpretations.

Special thanks

Special thanks goes to The Chinese Arts Centre, the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts for their support in realizing this work. Chinese Arts Centre is grateful for support from Arts Council of England, North West and AGMA.