{"product_id":"the-information-cacoon-mask-by-yiqi-sun","title":"The Information Cocoon Mask by Yiqi Sun","description":"\u003cp\u003eTitle: The Information Cocoon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaterials: Resin, cotton, agate. W 19cm x H 10 cm. April 17th 2026. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAm I thinking for myself, or thinking through others? This question reflects my anxiety in an increasingly digital and algorithm-driven world. As content stream are highly tailored to our interests and habits (Yang), do we still actively seek out differing perspectives, or are we submerged in a stream of like-minded voices? We are exposed to information at such\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003espeed—have we paused to think critically, or do we simply let the waves of content carry us?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eInspired by Cass Sunstein’s theory of the information cocoon, I began to explore a possible future in which opinions become increasingly polarized, and conflict intensifies as individuals align themselves with larger groups, believing they are fighting for a greater cause. I drew inspiration from the figure of Thousand-Armed Guanyin, traditionally depicted with a thousand eyes to perceive all suffering and a thousand arms to offer aid. In contrast, I reimagine a dystopian version of this figure—driven by self-interest rather than compassion. the eyes symbolize an all-seeing, algorithm-driven society, while the hands represent forces that produce conflict instead of healing. The black-and-white colour reflects informational bias and homogenized perspectives, and the white thread references the “cocoon.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.lapaigallery.com\/collections\/yiqi-sun-ocadu\" title=\"Yiqi Sun Collection\"\u003eYiqi Sun Collection\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"23rd ANJSC Exhibition\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lapaigallery.com\/pages\/23rd-annual-national-jewellery-student-competition\"\u003eReturn to 23rd ANJSC Exhibition \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"L.A. Pai Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47372374769748,"sku":"YiqiSun2","price":0.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0741\/7367\/files\/Screenshot2026-07-17223814.png?v=1784300278","url":"https:\/\/www.lapaigallery.com\/products\/the-information-cacoon-mask-by-yiqi-sun","provider":"L.A. Pai Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}