Between Cracks, Figures Emerge
Production year: 2025
Mediums: Sculpture, moving image
This work examines the cultural and power dynamics of an ivory carving gifted by Emperor Jiaqing to Napoleon, focusing on the contrasting ideals of Chinese and Western cultures during their exchange.
Inspired by the story of Guo Ziyi, the ivory carving symbolises Jiaqing's vision of a closed, stable, and hierarchical “utopia.” Over time, however, the carving came to represent global power struggles. Jiaqing, ruling at a pivotal moment as the Qing dynasty transitioned from prosperity to decline, adhered to a moderate and conservative governance philosophy. His ideal world centred on stability and isolation. In contrast, Napoleon sought to reconstruct European order through war and conquest, envisioning a world driven by expansion and domination. These opposing ideals are intertwined in the symbolic meaning of the gift, revealing a rich tension.
Through a reinterpretation of this historical episode, the work reflects on the cultural metaphors embedded in symbols of power. The ivory carving serves not only as a material medium of cultural exchange between the two emperors but also as a metaphor for the power dynamics between East and West in a postcolonial context. Although the carving initially symbolised peace and order, historical conflicts and power struggles redefined its meaning, exposing the alienation and distortion in cultural dissemination. Ultimately, this work questions the essence of the “ideal world”: in the intertwining of power and history, is the ideal world nothing more than an illusion?
Installation view, Between Cracks, Figures Emerge, 2025
Installation, Oil-based clay, Acrylic, Wooden Slats, Wooden Board, Iron Mesh, Old Cabinet, 550*600*700mm
Installation, IPS LCD Capacitive Touchscreen, 118*120mm, Blender, IPS LCD Capacitive Touchscreen, 220*120mm, UE5
Video stills, Between Cracks, Figures Emerge, 2025
Video stills, Between Cracks, Figures Emerge, 2025
IPS LCD Capacitive Touchscreen, 118*120mm, Blender
IPS LCD Capacitive Touchscreen, 220*120mm, UE5
Exhibition documentation video, Between Cracks, Figures Emerge, 2025
Moving image, Between Cracks, Figures Emerge, 2025