Burning Flowers 烛花

Title: Burning Flowers 烛花

Date: 2021

The installation, Burning Flowers, is a conversation between the cycle of life and death, and the relationship of human and spiritual power through the action of burning. The smog and melting candles floating on the water connect us closer to the gods and the people who passed away by burning the physical entities into an amorphous spiritual power. While the conversation burns through ashes and smog, it’s believed that people must act as an intermediary agent with a devoted heart and actions to keep the bonds effective.

Burning Flowers is dedicated to my grandmother, who sincerely devoted herself to Buddhism for me and passed away a few years ago due to uremia. As the years progressed and her condition got worse, I realize her beliefs and superstitions were her own unique way to love and protect me.

「Burning Flowers烛花」以火为媒介，蜡烛燃烧滴落的烛油漂浮在水池之上，从有形的实体通过燃烧到无形的气、灰等虚的介质，以此构建起跨越生与死、人与灵之间的对话桥梁。讲究天人合一的中国文化下，烟柱通神通天地，而香气敬神敬先祖。香火是神明灵力的显现，然而徒有香火不成灵力，还需人作为agent的动作和心灵的参与。「Burning Flowers烛花」聚焦于烛火燃烧的产物，漂浮在水面之上的烛花引着我们与神明、大地、先祖对话相通，便像是一盏盏祈福诉说的莲灯