Journey to the West is a large-scale ceramic installation that fuses the spirit of Chinese mythology with yoyo hu’s personal journey of transformation—from her roots in the East to her artistic practice in the West. Inspired by the allegory of The Journey to the West, the work translates Hu’s cross-cultural experience into a spiritual odyssey of identity, perseverance, and rediscovery.

Measuring 228 inches wide by 25 inches high, the horizontally expansive composition draws inspiration from traditional Chinese handscroll paintings. Like an unfolding scroll, it invites the viewer to move along its visual rhythm, where time, space, and emotion flow seamlessly together.

Crafted through a meticulous process of 3D modeling, printing, mold construction, and slip casting, the installation comprises 144 ceramic tiles that together form a monumental wall sculpture. Each tile functions as an individual unit yet resonates with the others, echoing fragments of memory that unite into a continuous landscape of life’s passage.

Behind each tile, hu installed LED light panels. Under natural light, the surface reveals intricate sculptural textures and rhythms; when illuminated in darkness, the work transforms—its luminous lines emerging from within, tracing the contours of the ceramic landscape like glowing rivers. In that moment, the sculpture seems alive, breathing light and shadow into a space that oscillates between the real and the ethereal.

Hu writes:
“The north wind howls through clouds and rain of bygone years; a hundred rivers surge toward the sea, tireless and free. The heart that follows its path does not return; what is released leaves no regret. With a child’s heart unbroken, I travel ten thousand miles without straying—peaceful within myself.”

This poetic reflection encapsulates the artist’s enduring philosophy: to remain steadfast in one’s creative path, to embrace transformation without regret, and to preserve a childlike sense of wonder. Journey to the West thus transcends physical geography—it is an inner pilgrimage where tradition meets innovation, and where light, clay, and spirit converge into a timeless dialogue.