A Taiwanese artist, Yi Fei Chen, has designed a unique tear gun that converts her tears into icy projectiles for use against those who offend her. The inspiration came from an argument with her teacher over an assignment that made her feel helpless and angry.
Chen was not able to articulate her feelings since she was born in Taiwan, where defiance of authority is not encouraged. “I had a confrontation with my teacher, but I didn’t really agree with him. I felt like I couldn’t speak up. I was frustrated and angry. Then the tears came,” she said according to Asia One.
Instead of seeing her tears as defeat, she wondered, “What if this happens again? How can I change the situation?” That is what brought her to design the tear gun, which would be her graduation project when studying in the Netherlands.
How the Tear Gun Works
The tear gun is as intriguing as its concept. It collects tears, freezes them within 20 seconds with carbon dioxide from a high-pressure bottle, and launches them as small ice projectiles through a spring-loaded system.
View this post on Instagram
He shows the same teacher that had argued with him Chen’s tear-powered invention. As if in a surprise twist, he was impressed at the result, saying: “He was quite happy with the result, even though it was something created against him.”
Social Media Reactions
Years after its inception in 2016, the tear gun continues to capture attention worldwide. On her Instagram, a pinned post showcases the tear gun in action. The creation has sparked admiration from social media users, with comments such as, “This is art at its finest. Emotional yet powerful!” and “Turning tears into strength—what a brilliant concept!”
Some comments were humorous and also curious, with one user saying “Imagine explaining this to your future kids!” and another that added “When life gives you tears, make tear bullets.
