Epitaph In the Air, San Fransisco, 2016
This seaside writing performance is an installation accompanied by the sound of weaves through the pacific ocean that is eventually preserved as photos, perhaps becoming a part of the viewers’ memories. The form was Inspired by the words of poet Sikong Tu, “Shallow and deep, gather and disperse, and take one from myriad,” it emphasizes the profundity and implicit nature of art and literary creation, with meaning lying beyond mere words.
In this work, transparent acrylic boards are placed by the sea and inscribed from sunrise to deep night, causing the text to vanish into the background, seemingly writing epitaphs in the air, suggesting the concept of “wordless monuments.” Historically, there have been tombstones and memorials without inscriptions worldwide, the absence of inscriptions itself becomes a question to ponder.
In contemporary times, we are inundated with relentless streams of information and data tracking that impinge on our privacy and sense of free will. Consequently, the critical issue of memory preservation has come to the fore. It raises crucial questions about how we can maintain the integrity of our most genuine memories while grappling with the ethical and political dilemmas inherent in this process.
