Growing up in Guangzhou—a historic crossroads of global trade and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)—prompted me to question: how might we critically reimagine our contemporary relationship with medicinal nature?

In medicine, a “symptom” is the body’s way of communicating internal conditions; “Co-Symptom” expands this concept, referring to a shared condition experienced simultaneously by humans and nature. Historically, humanity has fluctuated between reverence and skepticism toward nature, often contesting its healing authority. Advocates of herbal medicine celebrate nature’s intrinsic curative power, while skeptics prioritize human innovation. Yet contemporary ecological science urges us to move beyond such binaries.

Through fieldwork in herbal markets, I focused on two herbs—Caulis Sargentodoxae (Hongteng) and Rhizoma Corydalis (Yikouzhong)—to study their organic forms and medicinal properties. These elements were integrated with traditional therapeutic practices such as acupuncture and massage, then reinterpreted through contemporary jewelry and silverware using techniques including 3D printing, casting, enamel, electroplating, flocking, and herbal clay composites. The resulting works critically engage with the evolving role of TCM in today’s culture.

The pieces invite interaction through multiple senses, highlighting how humans and herbs mutually shape each other’s existence. Co-Symptom thus positions us not as passive consumers nor exploiters of nature, but as mutual witnesses to a shared, evolving condition. My work challenges viewers to rethink Chinese medicine: not as magical nor obsolete, but as an ongoing dialogue—a bodily narrative bridging past, present, and future.