Forever Gone But Always Exists (2023-2024)
"All conditioned phenomena are like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, and a shadow; like dew and a flash of lightning. Thus we shall perceive them as such.” — Diamond Sutra.
"Forever Gone But Always Exists" is the artist’s avenue in challenging the conventional ideas of time and permanence. She explores the nuances of memory, life, and the eternal imprint that transitory things leave behind on the axis of time. By doing so, she invites the viewers to reflect on the paradox of ephemerality — what has occurred does not go unnoticed; what has perished has merely changed its form of existence.
Through the potent medium of performance art, “Forever Gone but Always Exists” allows the viewers to investigate the delicate equilibrium between the passing of time and abiding repercussions, enabling them to elicit a wide spectrum of reactions and interpretations. Inspired by various literature materials such as the Diamond Sutra as well as her personal experience, the artist meditates on the constant cycle of constructing and destructing in her artistic career, and extends her contemplation to the search for true meaning of life as a journey. While the physical body serves as an ephemeral vehicle, are we too obsessed with the sense of objects or are the worldly pursuits simply inevitable?
During the exhibition opening, a symbolic performance unfolds. The artist meticulously erases the big drawing, accompanied by a live sound arrangement and literature recitation by the artist. The pencil-on-paper drawings serve as a visual exploration in relation to the transitory subject matter and a relic of the performance, to delve into the transient nature of the body and the artist’s own creations—a process of creation through erasure.
This exhibition sets the tone for a year full of provocative creative encounters. For an exploration of the fundamental and timeless domains of artistic expressions that will stimulate conversation about the fleetingness of life and the eternal value of past experience.‘Forever Gone But Always Exists’ constitute a series of erased graphite drawing on paper, photographic print on paper, video work and performance art.
An excerpt from the video work based on the same drawing series.
Script conceived & edited by Aiwei Foo / Filmed by Chai Ming Jiun / Sound design by Kent Lee
Single channel video / Duration: 3 minutes 30 seconds