A friend once half-jokingly suggested I make a project about visiting while she was away. I did — it felt empty. “But no one is really absent if you still recall them from your memories,” she commented, “when you think of them, you summon part of their spirit to you.”
A friend once half-jokingly suggested I make a project about visiting while she was away. I did — it felt empty. “But no one is really absent if you still recall them from your memories,” she commented, “when you think of them, you summon part of their spirit to you.”
Each of the 9 × 9 = 81 balloon represents a memory fragment
as each memory you carry around is like a delight (or de-heavy) balloon that floats above your mind that you can grab. Each balloon corresponds to an abstract watercolor memory fragment about, related to, or inspired by the soul friend.
Each of the 9 × 9 = 81 balloon represents a memory fragment
as each memory you carry around is like a delight (or de-heavy) balloon that floats above your mind that you can grab. Each balloon corresponds to an abstract watercolor memory fragment about, related to, or inspired by the soul friend.
Each balloon becomes an index, pointing to each memory referent.
When
Each balloon becomes an index, pointing to each memory referent.
When
9*9 Delight Balloons is designed to be surprising and tender:
When was the last time you saw 81 pearl white helium balloons floating above campus? As a mobile environment installed on CalArts campus,
9*9 Delight Balloons is designed to be surprising and tender:
When was the last time you saw 81 pearl white helium balloons floating above campus? As a mobile environment installed on CalArts campus,
9*9 Delight Balloons gradually develops into an expanded body of works that includes cards, artist books, and peripherals like folders.
9*9 Delight Balloons gradually develops into an expanded body of works that includes cards, artist books, and peripherals like folders.
Happy Birthday, 9!
Happy Birthday, 9!
Year
2026
Artistic Era
Waxing Gibbous Moon
Production Timeframe
Dec 2025 - Feb 2026
Medium
81 Latex balloons, helium, ribbons, balloon weights
82 memory fragments, watercolor on paper
Artist book, edited in Image Capture, Sketch, and Pixelmator Pro and inkjet printed on textured paper
Artist book, edited in Pages and Sketch and inkjet printed on watercolor paper, yarn
Folder, edited in Sketch and inkjet printed on coated cardstock
Cards, edited in Sketch and inkjet printed on watercolor paper, ink on paper
Sizes
Variable
Variable
4.25 x 5.5 x 0.9 in. (print size)
6 x 9 x 0.2 in. (print size)
8.5 x 11 in. (print size)
4.5 x 6 in. & 2.5 x 4.2 in. & 2.75 x 4.75 in. (print size)
Credit
*Installation Support*
Mia Dai
David Ding
*Logistics Support*
HUANG Kai Qing
©Copyright 2025-26 Sierra Zhang and Lonely Corridor Studio.
Year
2026
Artistic Era
Waxing Gibbous Moon
Production Timeframe
Dec 2025 - Feb 2026
Medium
81 Latex balloons, helium, ribbons, balloon weights
82 memory fragments, watercolor on paper
Artist book, edited in Image Capture, Sketch, and Pixelmator Pro and inkjet printed on textured paper
Artist book, edited in Pages and Sketch and inkjet printed on watercolor paper, yarn
Folder, edited in Sketch and inkjet printed on coated cardstock
Cards, edited in Sketch and inkjet printed on watercolor paper, ink on paper
Sizes
Variable
Variable
4.25 x 5.5 x 0.9 in. (print size)
6 x 9 x 0.2 in. (print size)
8.5 x 11 in. (print size)
4.5 x 6 in. & 2.5 x 4.2 in. & 2.75 x 4.75 in. (print size)
Credit
*Installation Support*
Mia Dai
David Ding
*Logistics Support*
HUANG Kai Qing
©Copyright 2025-26 Sierra Zhang and Lonely Corridor Studio.