Keep Smiling, Feng Feng, "The Section of Experimental Art at the 20th National Art Exhibition"

This work reflects a double coercion. First is to force the performer to keep smiling until getting hurt. The name performer comes from the fact that people only makes a smiling face without actual feelings. After a long time, the performer stiffens the muscles, resulting in a twisted facial expression that indicates the gap between real, painful status and the smiling surface, and reveals the painful cost they have paid to keep a beautiful smile.
The other enforcement is imposed on the viewer. Facial expressions generally reveal our true feelings, and we interpret people’s feelings through their facial expressions. In other words, smiles are signs. However, in this work, the author provides an opportunity, or forces the audience to gaze at fake smiles detached from feelings. Instead of signifying what people feel, these smiles are simple muscle movements, a fact that forces us to ponder: how shall we deal face these smiles if they no longer represent inner emotions and feelings? Are they still qualified as smiles?