single channel video projection, a round wall lamp, mosquito nets, single channel video inserted into a table, stand lamps, incense, optical fiber light, censers, an altar, tea leaves and chairs
Dimension variable
video:
part one: http://vimeo.com/140506630, 6min5s
part two: (*based on request), 2min58s
Every Mid Autumn Festival in the walled village, I meet the neighbours on everyone’s rooftops.
Paper lanterns cast flickering greys—sometimes faint, sometimes heavy. When a strong gust sweeps through, several patches go dark at once. Yet the streetlights beside us cooperate, their shifting glow highlighting certain faces, carving deep wrinkles as if chiselling dozens of solemn statues.
A traditional festival practiced in modern times.
Mooncakes, starfruit, lanterns—accompanied now by gift boxes, red wine, lighters. The noise blends fireworks with television dramas. The modern world inside and outside the village walls is never shut out by the festival.
Mosquito nets become lanterns; incense coils become lampshades; fibre optic strands stand in for incense flames; the ceiling light reflected in a teacup becomes the full moon. Between real and fake, illusion gathers all the light—like an opera in stark black and white contrast, seductive yet skilled at shaping atmosphere, tricking people into falling again and again into feelings beyond words.
Candlelight, moonlight, electric light—shadows shifting. Tradition and capital: in opposition; in separation; trying to trace back; trying to merge.
圍村中秋，每年跟鄰居頂樓相見。
紙燈籠忽淺忽沉的串串灰，偶然被大風一刮，頓即黑了幾處，然街燈在旁配合，光芒收放間強調些臉容，刻劃深刻的皺紋斧鑿數十尊莊嚴塑像。
傳統節慶在現代實踐。
月餅、楊桃、燈籠，相伴禮盒、紅酒、打火機；喧鬧聲混雜煙火和電視劇。圍牆內外的現代化，沒因節慶而被隔絕。
蚊帳作燈籠；盤香作燈罩；光纖作香火；茶杯倒映的天花燈作圓月。真假間，幻象概括了光芒，如黑白對比強烈的戲，既魅惑又懂掌握氣氛，欺騙人一再掉進無以名狀的感受。
燭光、月光、電燈光，光影轉換。傳統與資本，是對立；是相隔；又試圖追溯；再試圖交融。
