ARC-1 Sculpture by Zhangchi Shen
Title: ARC-1
Sculpture. Copper, pearl, resin. Chasing, hydraulic press
13 x 8 x 11, 2026.
ARC is a series of metal sculptures inspired by three distinct phases of my life over the last ten years. Using the pearl as a metaphor, the works examine the contradictory yet interconnected relationship between the individual and society. The series moves from social marginalization, through a period of nihilism and collapse, toward reconciliation with the past and the emergence of self-acceptance.
All three works are entirely handmade, with no found objects used. In ARC-2, the figure is constructed from pearls and resin and can be detached from its base. In ARC-3, the skull is hand-carved from wood. The pearl is removable, while the shell is fixed and non-functional.
