movana chen

Beyond the surface
a letter from Movana Chen

Dear friends,

This is an invitation from my heart to yours, to join my new project “Beyond the surface”.

This project itself is very simple. I am collecting your expired passports and giving them a new life. I will shred them and knit them back together in a single piece. This will be performed and documented in video, as a way to express and enhance the depth of the work.

Why is this project important to me?

If the symbolism of shredding an individual passport, symbol of identity and nationality, and transforming it into a single piece composed of many, maybe hundreds, or even thousands of passports from all over the world, united and intertwined as one humanity, what I really want to say is: exactly this.

Can we look together, beyond the surface?

fragile beating hearts
bodies of the earth
bodies that hurt
bodies that want
to feel good, to belong
to be cared for

How can you contribute?

You can either by donating your expired passport(s) and /or by sharing this project with your friends (spreading by word of mouth or forwarding this message). All passports will be shred and knitted back together as one long piece where personal identity and information will be unrecognisable, part of a large body composed by a myriad of interconnected beings and stories.

I understand passports contain personal data. All your data will be protected/not shared with any third parties. If you prefer, considering the risk of mail loss, you may cross out, cover up or tear off the personal data page.

Once you donate your expired passport(s), it will not be returned, it will be becoming part of the artwork. The knitted passports artwork and the video(s) will then be exhibited all around the world.

You name (given by you) will be collected and credited when the project is finished. You may also opt to remain anonymous. For the postage fee (if by mail), I am willing to cover the full cost if necessary.

If you wish to donate your passport (s), please let me know to collect from you.

Email me at
info@movana-chen.com

Thank you very much for your support!

Love,
Movana Chen
20240601