The rat, which clings to the cow’s horns and then leaps down to claim the top spot in the zodiac, is a clever and small creature that symbolizes our inherent nature and desires. This zodiac rat holds a cosmic and spiritual significance, representing a realm beyond the physical. The feelings of emptiness evoked by these elements delve into the senselessness and incompleteness of existence, encompassing human vulnerability and anxiety.

The pedestal, constructed from overlapping and connected iron pieces, serves to expose minor and insignificant things to the water’s surface. In actuality, it is composed of plumbing pipes that act as passageways for urban mice. These pipes, cut, weathered, and coated with thick paint, shed their role as dwellings and retain their unchanging value within a rapidly changing environment. Elevated on a podium, they appear fragile, teetering on the edge, yearning for something. This illustrates the disparity between the zodiac’s status of the ‘rat’ and the rat’s ecological existence, inviting viewers to intuitively interpret and express their own images.

Additionally, despite being a symbol with clear associative connections, this work allows for a range of perspectives in interpretation and recognition. Various meanings are formed through the interplay of individual elements, leaving room for other associations to linger and fostering a transition from simple playful contemplation into an interactive object.

The worldview depicted in this artwork emerges through diverse interpretations and imagery, centered around the mouse and its analogy to humans. Through this work, we strive to delve into our intrinsic nature, human attributes, and the transience and fragility of life, aiming to offer comprehension and insights into our existence. Simultaneously, we explore self and identity through the symbolism of the mouse and the zodiac implied within the piece. In the process of accepting futility and vulnerability, we profoundly examine the meaning and worth of life. Moreover, the artwork provides the audience a chance for personal empathy and contemplation, advocating for a reevaluation and reverence of the interconnectedness between humans, animals, and nature.