Gradual - Rebirth by Lo Tsen, 2009
It has been said that all the creative work produced for purposes of self expression is a waste of time and more pointedly that the life experience of the individual is destined to be a lonely journey. Others have suggested that the blooming of flowers is a metaphor for the essential nature of all biology whether people notice or not, and that this is also a perfect description of the relationship between art and artist. However, some people are born with creative ability that follows them wherever they go, making it impossible to ignore. In such a situation individuals do exactly what they should and can. However hard this may be there is no denying the reality of the calling.
Interests in life change over time and space. Sometimes we find ourselves focused on things that used to mean little or nothing to us for a variety of reasons objective and subjective; growth, moving home, the passing of time, natural disasters, accidents etc. The ability to once again honestly express sentiment, understanding or frame of mind is difficult for any artist. However, an even greater challenge both in terms of depth and breadth is to be found in the development over time of the way in which an artist uses concepts, techniques, form and methods. Some choose to hone their talent through life, utilizing their limited careers to explore the infinite possibilities of the unknown, whatever the cost.
All of us are part of the flow of history and time. When individuals are unable to resist a torrent or trend they can at least choose to record or bear witness to it. A dozen or so years ago I experienced the same thing myself and noted in a self commentary written at that time: Life is proof that, in timeless eternity and limitless space, an individual is very tiny, as tiny as one grain of sand. Because of the existence of every tiny grain of sand, we can prove that lasting history and civilization have been derived from such small things as one man’s life, into the greater whole: the change and development of the entire human society.
In recent years although my life has been remarkably stable I have unexpectedly found myself having to deal with a profound and often overwhelming sense of loss. Over the years the values and beliefs I have held since I was young have been constantly assailed by life. As such my long standing conviction that common pursuit of and adherence to the same beautiful values will help create a better tomorrow for all Mankind has been decisively undermined.
“People have long known that the way we pollute and inappropriately use the environment has a hugely detrimental impact on eco-systems around the world, leading to increasingly frequent extreme climatic events and constant natural disasters. Today, many people loudly demand that we stop pollution and protect the environment to avoid accelerating the destruction of the planet, but words are easier than action. Over the last century, human civilization has developed at a pace far in excess of anything the planet has previously experienced. As a result the focus on materialism in the form of such things as mechanized mass production, are now irreversible trends.”
The path of civilization is a one way road. For several thousand years humanity has applied its intelligence and ingenuity to the creation of culture but it is only over the last century that the widespread introduction of mechanization has led to the gradual loss of both the function and heritage of handicraft arts. Somewhere between reflection and looking to the future I find myself considering how best to preserve and even awaken the memory of “handicrafts” as a way of balancing the rapid loss of human memory caused by mechanization. I believe this to be a worthwhile cause deserving of our every effort.
The work “Micro Organism” (微物) was a product of such reflections. Indeed, the weaving and sowing used in this piece have been a part of my daily life for decades. Although I have always considered them to be a small part of housework, they can make a sizeable contribution to family income; whether in the form of jumpers that keep loved ones warm, curtains, bed-covers, making and mending clothes etc. All of these activities created much needed warmth and comfort at a time when making a living was more difficult. Modern society is much wealthier and most women work, so doing such work at home no longer creates the same economic benefits, but it still exists as a collective memory for me and many women from earlier generations. I made use of these real life handicraft skills to create a series of works not out of any sense of nostalgia but to mark the memory. This also corresponds to my continued interest in cultural heritage, which makes it particularly fitting that they appear together in this way.
It has been said that all the creative work produced for purposes of self expression is a waste of time and more pointedly that the life experience of the individual is destined to be a lonely journey. Others have suggested that the blooming of flowers is a metaphor for the essential nature of all biology whether people notice or not, and that this is also a perfect description of the relationship between art and artist. However, some people are born with creative ability that follows them wherever they go, making it impossible to ignore. In such a situation individuals do exactly what they should and can. However hard this may be there is no denying the reality of the calling.
Interests in life change over time and space. Sometimes we find ourselves focused on things that used to mean little or nothing to us for a variety of reasons objective and subjective; growth, moving home, the passing of time, natural disasters, accidents etc. The ability to once again honestly express sentiment, understanding or frame of mind is difficult for any artist. However, an even greater challenge both in terms of depth and breadth is to be found in the development over time of the way in which an artist uses concepts, techniques, form and methods. Some choose to hone their talent through life, utilizing their limited careers to explore the infinite possibilities of the unknown, whatever the cost.
All of us are part of the flow of history and time. When individuals are unable to resist a torrent or trend they can at least choose to record or bear witness to it. A dozen or so years ago I experienced the same thing myself and noted in a self commentary written at that time: Life is proof that, in timeless eternity and limitless space, an individual is very tiny, as tiny as one grain of sand. Because of the existence of every tiny grain of sand, we can prove that lasting history and civilization have been derived from such small things as one man’s life, into the greater whole: the change and development of the entire human society.
In recent years although my life has been remarkably stable I have unexpectedly found myself having to deal with a profound and often overwhelming sense of loss. Over the years the values and beliefs I have held since I was young have been constantly assailed by life. As such my long standing conviction that common pursuit of and adherence to the same beautiful values will help create a better tomorrow for all Mankind has been decisively undermined.
“People have long known that the way we pollute and inappropriately use the environment has a hugely detrimental impact on eco-systems around the world, leading to increasingly frequent extreme climatic events and constant natural disasters. Today, many people loudly demand that we stop pollution and protect the environment to avoid accelerating the destruction of the planet, but words are easier than action. Over the last century, human civilization has developed at a pace far in excess of anything the planet has previously experienced. As a result the focus on materialism in the form of such things as mechanized mass production, are now irreversible trends.”
The path of civilization is a one way road. For several thousand years humanity has applied its intelligence and ingenuity to the creation of culture but it is only over the last century that the widespread introduction of mechanization has led to the gradual loss of both the function and heritage of handicraft arts. Somewhere between reflection and looking to the future I find myself considering how best to preserve and even awaken the memory of “handicrafts” as a way of balancing the rapid loss of human memory caused by mechanization. I believe this to be a worthwhile cause deserving of our every effort.
The work “Micro Organism” (微物) was a product of such reflections. Indeed, the weaving and sowing used in this piece have been a part of my daily life for decades. Although I have always considered them to be a small part of housework, they can make a sizeable contribution to family income; whether in the form of jumpers that keep loved ones warm, curtains, bed-covers, making and mending clothes etc. All of these activities created much needed warmth and comfort at a time when making a living was more difficult. Modern society is much wealthier and most women work, so doing such work at home no longer creates the same economic benefits, but it still exists as a collective memory for me and many women from earlier generations. I made use of these real life handicraft skills to create a series of works not out of any sense of nostalgia but to mark the memory. This also corresponds to my continued interest in cultural heritage, which makes it particularly fitting that they appear together in this way.
