Statement:

Thoughts on the three words ‘Tả Thanh Thiên’ inscribed on Pen Tower in front of Temple of Jade Mountain.

Seek for the sky reflections which scatter across the landscape

Then leave uncertain words

 

 

Description:

In the early 1860s, Nguyen Van-Sieu, a prominent mandarin of Vietnam, initiated a campaign to gather donations for the renovation of Jade Mountain Temple and the construction of Pen Tower, which located at the heart of Hanoi.

The Tower, resembling a brush with its head pointing to the sky, sits on a rock pile which represents the earth. On the body of the tower inscribed 3 words ‘Tả Thanh Thiên’, meaning “Writing on to the blue sky”. These three words recall a stalwart image of  Confucian scholars in the past. It embodies the peak of determination and will power in a truly righteous person. Or it could be a reflection phenomenal dreams that can only expressed by writing upon the sky.

Inspired by the essence of these three words, I embarked on a durational performance to re-enact the profound act of “Tả Thanh Thiên”. Rather than seeking the sky as a universally symbolic representation, I seek out fragments of its torn reflection. I find these fragments on various reflective surfaces such as glass doors, windows of buildings, screen displays, bulletin boards, and even street puddles or buckets of water. Upon these surfaces, I write down a sentence. They become exclamations, messages, questions, wishes and confessions.

Is the Blue sky from 160 years still the same?

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