In his installation “I am a Queer Loop,” Hayashi explores the concept of a 3-by-3 magic square composed of the numbers 1 to 9. This installation features nine pieces, including a central sketchbook titled “Sketchbook Vol.113” of “Equivocal Landscape.” Each artwork, linked to nine drawings created in Hawaii and New York between May 1 and May 9, 2024, corresponds to one of these numbers.

The magic square’s appeal lies in its structure, where each row, column, and diagonal sums to 15. This number holds personal significance for Hayashi, as his full name in Chinese characters contains 15 strokes. Inspired by the square’s mathematical elegance and its connection to his identity, Hayashi named his installation “I am a Queer Loop,” echoing the themes of self-reference found in Douglas Hofstadter’s book “I Am a Strange Loop.”