Tightrope Walker / Balance Game

Drawing from my own experiences, Tightrope Walker emerged as a reflection on how we navigate vulnerability and emotional responsibility within the dynamics of both private and public relationships. The work explores themes of care, manipulation, the need for belonging, and the tension between pleasing others and asserting oneself. I was particularly interested in how these relational dynamics often involve a subtle power play—how we use our own or others’ fragilities to push boundaries or maintain control.

In the video performances, I carry a large scale on my shoulders while two anonymous figures continuously place beer glasses on either side of the scale. Both sides are integral to the performance. One side tests how much I can bear, pushing the limits further and further, while I attempt to prove my ability to endure, to carry the burden.

This repetitive exchange creates a loop, blurring the lines between the one who oppresses and the one who is oppressed. The act of placing and carrying the glasses highlights the fragility of human connection: how easily balance can tip, and how mutual complicity shapes the burden we carry.