instagram: @haveyoueverseenthewind

have you ever seen the wind?

handmade hanging rug, 2020

180/200 by 130 cm

3.7 kg

haveyoueverseenthewind? 20200412

Artist statement

“have you ever seen the wind?”

The wind has always been something that interests me. It is one of the eight basic elements within the Book of Changes (易经/I Ching, Zhou Dynasty China, Late 9th century BC), which function as a divination book for my family. And I have always been fascinated by how the wind shapes the environment. Cloud moves, ocean waves, bird flies, seeds transports. We can perceive the wind only indirectly, by seeing the effect that wind has on other things. As well as memories. Memories and experiences have shaped each one of us.

“have you ever seen the wind?” is a handwoven hanging rug, approximately 130 by 180cm. It is an abstract expression of some personal memories. Colours of this piece will be extracted from a Thangka (Tibetan Buddhist paintings on silk or cotton) my family owns. This Thangka was probably from a temple before coming to my house as a decoration. This could be evidenced by several dark red hand marks possibly from Kaiguang (开光, Buddhābhiṣeka), and smoke marks left on fabric caused by lighting Tibetan butter lamps. The sense of relocation of the Thangka is also relevant within this piece. It was started within a studio at school, and during the process of making it has been removed and brought into my living place. During a family trip, I was able to see many old Thangka within a tiny Tibetan Buddhist temple. The Thangka were within an almost completely dark room, the smells of the burning incense were very vivid.

The transformation within Thangka’s shapes and smells have reminded me that textiles also create and own memories. They can remember the environment they were in by capturing the smell, moisture, shapes, and the amount of sunlight, etc. Thangka were made to be hung on a wall, only showing their front surface. It is untouchable, just like many artworks within galleries. But I wanted to reenact the moment of Kaiguang, letting the hands being a part of the piece. And I believe this piece would only be completed by the engagement of the viewers. But unfortunately, due to the current situation with COVID, it can only be viewed online as images.

一九年九月的时候我就决定好了毕业作品的名字: “have you ever seen the wind?”

其实这是我曾听过的一句话。一六年高中时期的我不知道听谁这么说了一嘴，觉得有趣，便习惯性的记在了手机备忘录里。在我寻找灵感的时候不经意的被我翻出来。

看到的当时我就决定，就是它了。

我莫名的对风有着极其浓厚的兴趣。公众号的名字也有风，最喜欢的一颗植物被我命名为风水，毕业作品的名字也是带着风。琢磨来琢磨去，大概是因为易经。我和易经之间有着有趣的缘分，而风作为八卦中的巽(xùn)，也被我赋予了重要的意义。也有可能只是因为我喜欢风，喜欢大自然的人必定不会忽略了风。

你何曾见过风？

我们所见到的不过是被风影响了的世间万物。

云彩、海浪、柳絮、发梢，

海鸥、芦苇、风筝、旗帜。

树间沙沙作响，散落一地；

铜铃叮当作响，信徒烧香。

你何曾见过记忆？

不同的记忆和经历塑造成的便是不同的我们。