Flame by Zhixuan Zeng

中文版 - Chinese version      

Artist list

Zhixuan Zeng

Sacrificial ceremony is an important part of Chinese ritual culture. The so-called “cautious pursuit of the future” is a typical manifestation of traditional Chinese value of filial piety, as well as a form conforming to Chinese people’s worship beliefs and spiritual needs. After the Song Dynasty, with the spread of religious culture and under the influence of the “dualism of life” consciousness, sacrificial behaviors like burning incense and paper-bundled products have gradually emerged. The content of our coming exhibition is closely related to sacrificial offerings. So why not take this opportunity to interpret this unique Chinese culture from different perspectives following our artist?

Paper-bundled products are usually made into “gorgeous” substitutes of all kinds of daily necessities in reality, even including silver/gold ingot, coins and banknotes in different forms. Their emergence creates a scene of “richness and liveliness” for memorial activities, but their ultimate destiny is to be ignited. People are willing to believe that flame can transport all these material substitutes to their deceased loved ones. This is probably the only remaining link for the living to maintain contact with the dead. Even if there is a far distance away, ignition of paper-bundled products can still deliver thoughts and feelings. Chinese people are reluctant to give up this last “contact method” because there is nothing more than flame that has a stronger soothing power.
 
The series exhibited this time is a collection of creative elements and methods extracted by Zhixuan Zeng from his personal experience related to sacrificial behaviors. He handcrafted a lot of benzoin blocks shaped in gold ingot, which is both a “direct” and somewhat “retro” currency symbol, in the most primitive way. These gold ingot-shaped benzoin blocks are stacked in several groups. However, they do not seem to emit the smell of “money”. On the contrary, if you approach to them, you will smell waves of tranquil fragrance. Meanwhile, he also made many small paper houses, which had been ignited but were not completely burned, exposing the silver keels hidden inside. Chinese people are accustomed to burning all the sacrificial offerings at once, leaving nothing behind, but Zhixuan Zeng has created a false impression for us --- the paper house will give rise to new possibilities after being burned. If you pay some cautious attention, you may see several white moths quietly stopped within the mottled keel frame. When you wear it on your chest, the loved one you miss will fall into your heart.