ARC-2 Sculpture by Zhangchi Shen
Title: ARC-2 Sculpture. Copper, pearl, resin. Chasing, patination, 14 x 6 x 10, 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.
The figure’s head is a pearl, and the body is hand-sculpted from non-stick UV resin. I gradually build up the resin on the pearl, adding and shaping it layer by layer, curing each stage with a UV lamp. Once the basic form is complete, I refine the details by sanding and carving, and finally apply paint to achieve the finished appearance.
