Tears as Ammunition:Taiwan Artist Yi Fei Chen Creates Unique Tear-Collecting Device

An artist from Taiwan, Yi Fei Chen, has crafted a unique device that collects her tears, freezes them, and then shoots the frozen tears as bullets at those who upset her. This invention was inspired by a disagreement with her teacher over an assignment. Chen shared that this confrontation in 2016 led to the creation of the "tear gun".

Chen explained that during the argument with her mentor, she felt unable to express herself and was overwhelmed with frustration and anger. Despite crying, she remained in the conversation, pondering how she could alter such situations in the future. This experience motivated her to design a tool that would allow her to "shoot" her tears at those who caused them.

Creation and Development of the Tear Gun

Raised in Taiwan and educated in the Netherlands, Chen was taught that disagreeing with teachers was impolite. This cultural background influenced her decision not to argue with her mentor. Instead, she channelled her emotions into creating the tear gun as part of her graduation project. The initial working model took three months to develop.

The tear gun operates by collecting tears and freezing them within 20 seconds using carbon dioxide stored in a high-pressure bottle. The frozen tears are then expelled from the device through a spring mechanism. Chen has spent years refining this invention since its inception.

Support from an Unexpected Source

Before proceeding with the project, Chen had to present her idea to the teacher she had argued with. Surprisingly, he was supportive of her concept. "He was quite happy with the result even though it was something [created] against him," Chen remarked.

This innovative project highlights how personal experiences can inspire creative solutions. It also underscores how cultural upbringing can shape one's approach to conflict resolution. Chen's tear gun is a testament to turning emotional challenges into artistic expression.