Sink or Swim: The Life of Ching Shih
A former prostitute from a floating brothel in the city of Canton was wed to Cheng I, a fearsome pirate who operated in the South China Sea in the Qing dynasty. The legacy she left behind far exceeded that of her husband’s. Following his death, she succeeded him and commanded over 1,800 pirate ships, and an estimated 80,000 men. In comparison, the famed Blackbeard commanded four ships and 300 pirates within the same century. As a result, Ching Shih proved her prevail throughout history. Plus, female pirate leaders were a rare phenomenon.
The acrylic ink represents blood in the water, as well as symbolism for something seeming soft and delicate yet looking extremely powerful. All photography is original.
Exhibit Environment
Visitors can use this interactive display to see the map from the 1800's of Ching Shih's territory. They can click on each city and see how many people were captured or killed and other details about how she took over the land. They can also see which cities helped her and what they traded for safety.
Take Away Brochure
Poster
