As a Chinese-Canadian artist that moved overseas at an early age, Sidi He was devoted to integrating nostalgia into her early artworks. Although she has felt confused and anxious in the process of constantly moving, her passion for creativity has never faded. Inspired by the new surroundings, Sidi has established a connection between art and new homes to find peace in herself. For Sidi, a new home is a fresh start of her next chapter in life.
The everyday objects around Sidi have enriched her imagination with infinite possibilities. When Sidi first came to New York, she was not quite adaptable to the crowded streets and the fast-paced life here. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, Sidi liked it best when she stayed in her own house where she could do whatever she wanted.
“I like to use everyday objects around me to create art,” Sidi said, “Power of Balance is the most satisfying of my early works. It was inspired by the cat tree at home and requires a lot of balancing skills, which is why it’s fun to me.”
In this work, Sidi used thermodynamics to incite windmills and gravity to draw sand in order to show the work-life balance and ecological balance. “Heat, wind, magnet and friction, these constant forces from nature have always healed me, and I have learned to find myself from various yoga and meditation,” Sidi explained.
The balance between work and life has been indeed difficult to achieve for everyone, including Sidi He herself, who has just become a mother. Knowing parenting is a completely different story, Sidi did not get lost in her motherhood but was enabled to bring the role of a mother into the identity of an artist to help people like her find the balance between work and family.
“I spent most of my time at home in the last two years. During this time, I created As Time Goes By, a project I want to deliver all our memories, pain, and joy, ”Sidi said, “you can see flowers blooming everywhere in the house – in the fridge, dryer, and serving bowls. Flowers represent not only blessings, hopes, and love but my memories of this place where my family is protected from outside and nursed by.”
Csilla Klenyánszki, the founder of a studio space combined with communal day care called Mothers in Arts Residency, had done the same. “She didn’t give up an art role when she became a mom. Instead, she found the best way to balance her career and family life, which I admire the most,” Sidi demonstrated, “my favorite work from Csilla is called Pillars of Home, the ninety-eight balancing sculptures created during her son’s napping time.”
Under the influence of Csilla Klenyánszki, Sidi is able to continue pursuing her passion for art-creating while taking care of her family. Even though the global pandemic had disrupted people’s normal life and had, to some extent, changed the way they work and live, it motivated Sidi to find new inspiration for the theme of home.
Sidi’s work comprehensively portrayed that art comes from life and has delivered comfort and joy to people living a fast paced life. In the meanwhile, she’s also dedicated to charity events to help immigrant families release stress and get more engagement with local communities.
