A Manuscript of RABBREXIT Installation

'A Manuscript of Rabbrexit', embroidered Rabbit language on skin of Rabbitus Metallicus, with backing fur of Rabbitus Mercuryvum, 150x60 cm, date unknown. Displayed in show 'Rabbrexit Means Rabbrexit', House of Illustration, March-July 2019. Inspired by the exhibition 'Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War' at British Library last year, the artist made this piece as one of the fake 'relics' during her residency at House of Illustration to be part of final show 'Rabbrexit Means Rabbrexit'. Shih invented a Rabbit language to go into this illuminated manuscript style embroidered work, based on how some European letters look - a combination of English character and some decoration around it, for example 'ä'. She started with adding some decorated lines like illustrative rabbit ears marks on top of some English letters, or flip the English letters, plus some invented symbols, and then Shih has her 'written Rabbit language' ready to go. The historical items at British library's show remind the audience one fact that English characters are initially based on some European characters, and she would like to play with this idea and to raise the notion of how close the culture and relationship has always been between the Britain and Europe ever since Anglo Saxon kingdoms time. . . For the artist one reason to make up this Rabbit language, is to show how the minor difference between one group to another, could actually generates division: this Rabbit language is built on the base of English, so if you're an English speaker then you will find it's not that difficult to understand the writing. But since it's so similar to English, it annoys people with this minor difference from English. It brings you a little bit uncomfortable feeling while reading this 'almost could be English' text. Sometimes this 'little uncomfortable feeling towards difference' could escalate and end up becoming, in worse case, xenophobia.