ZeYu Zhao

Acquaintance’s Game (Hidden Damage)

Acquaintance’s Game is an interactive installation on the theme of child sexual abuse, revealing the hidden nature of sexual abuse and the unspeakable trauma of the victims through optical and mechanical devices. The work uses a rotating polariser and a Ferris wheel octave structure, where the viewer triggers the device by turning a clockwork mechanism, gradually revealing the symbolic words of violence hidden underneath the ‘normal’ images. The technical core of the installation is a circular gear and a highly translucent polarising film, a metaphor for society’s ‘blindness’ to child sexual abuse. At the same time, it triggers the audience’s awareness and reflection on hidden sexual abuse. The work combines artistry and social issues, calling on the public to break the silence and pay attention to child protection.