Ling Qiao, Apple, 2024, Experimental Film, Video

The work Apple symbolizes the diversity of choices, including personal interests, hobbies, and future directions. It reflects the intervention of East Asian families in their children's autonomy, particularly in regard to their right to choose their own paths. This intervention often takes the form of parents pushing their children toward careers or lives that align with societal standards of success, while disregarding the children’s own traits and interests. On the surface, it may appear that children have the freedom to make their own choices, yet, in reality, they lose their independence due to the influence — and sometimes manipulation — of their parents. However, this imposition is not entirely voluntary on the parents' part; they too are caught in the web of societal expectations, trapped in a cycle that is difficult to break.