Zhao Jiayi’s work focuses around the theme of ‘reproduction’- a behaviour that connects all life forms. Through constant reproduction and evolution, human beings have formed today’s colourful society. Due to Jiayi’s chinese heritage, their work focuses especially on China’s population policy, and one of the most pressing demographic issues: China’s declining fertility rate. One of the main factors in the decline is that, due to the family planning policy, combined with current patriarchal systems, the current male-female ratio in China is imbalanced, affecting the ability to reproduce. 

As reproduction also refers to the process of repetition and increase, Jiayi uses folding paper, in large numbers and the same components, to piece together the final work. Men and women are distinguished by colour, pattern and shape, with the final piece formed by joining the components with silver rivets to form a necklace.