Bio

Alison Dong was born in China and currently lives in Toronto. She is a multimedia artist with a strong interest in exploring abstract themes including time, emotions, occultism, and the fluidity of relationships. Her works primarily consist of installations, videos, and sculptures.

Artist Statement

Human relationships resemble a game, where each interaction acts as an essential requirement to complete the game, building connection and strengthening intimacy. Reach In, Reach Out is an interactive work that focuses on the role of touch as a key form of nonverbal communication. Participants are invited to interact with hand sculptures posed in familiar gestures—a handshakes, fingers crossed, fingertips touching, a shoulder tap. When touched, these hands embedded with sensors activate color projections onto a monochrome background, visually emphasizing how touch can transform distance into familiarity, and strangeness into intimacy. The moment participants release their hands, the colors gradually fade out, creating a metaphor for how relationships require continuous interaction to maintain closeness. Without sustained contact, we lose warmth and intimacy over time. Through this dynamic process, the dynamic and evolving nature of human relationships is emphasized. The interactive installation demonstrates that touch is not only an action but also a metaphorical hammer that breaks down interpersonal walls and keeps relationships alive. Reach In, Reach Out invites reflection on how ongoing physical interactions carry the weight of human connection and intimacy.