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2023-ongoing
The "Lotus Root Walk Project" is a captivating and interactive art installation that blends the urban landscape of Greenwich Village, New York, with the organic beauty of and rich culture behind the lotus root plant. Consisting of a thoughtfully designed map and 7 site-specific installations, this project encourages viewers to embark on a journey that blurs the lines between art and the existing city infrastructure. At each site, one can find a slice of the lotus root plant made in steel, fixed to an existing structure on the urban street using wire, zip ties, or nuts. The surface of the metal pieces has been treated with either heat patina or rust. The treatments are applied so that the lotus root slices could have a better conversation with the existing metal structure on site.
Each of the 7 sites in the walk was carefully chosen so that one sees a lotus root slice shape on the map. Two inspirations for this project were: the existing metal structures in New York City and the lotus root plant. The former fascinates me because the fire hydrant, street lamp, traffic light, signposts, etc., have been existing on the streets of NYC for decades. However, metal structures like scaffoldings might only exist for about a year. The temporality and the permanence of metal structures in the cityscape make me wonder about their perspectives of street scenes. While looking for the lotus root slices made from steel, one is pushed to observe more deeply the otherwise mundane route (because it is the blocks around the school where many of us tread daily) and pay attention to the surroundings.
While originated from a class assignment, this project has evolved into an ongoing exploration of the immediate surroundings of “city-wares,” the history and voices of specific neighborhoods, and the interaction between urban infrastructures and the land itself. In this continued exploration, the project becomes a living testimony to the interconnectedness of all things, reflecting the Chinese idiom "藕断丝连" (ǒu duàn sī lián). The notion that severed relationships still retain some connection rings true in the context of the "Lotus Root Walk Project." As the project expands and deepens, it uncovers the invisible threads that link various elements of the cityscape, from the enduring metal structures to the transient scaffoldings. I can’t wait to see where this walking & research project takes me next!
2023-ongoing
2023 - 现在