逆向．現實

Reversed Reality

再現蘭蘇園

Lan Su Yuan Recreated

Worksound, 美國波特蘭

Worksound, Portland

2008

Portland and Suzhou became sister cities in 1988.  Portland Classical Chinese Garden was opened in September 2000. The Garden is located on a common land and run by a non-profit organization, “Portland Classical Chinese Garden”. Chinese Garden designers and craftsmen from China were invited and built the Garden according to the design from Ming Dynasty as an authentic scholar’s garden in Suzhou. The aim of the Garden is to cultivate an interest of Chinese culture in the local community. In the meantime, the Garden is also a testimony of the friendly cultural exchange between the two sister cities.

This work is named “Lan Su Yuan Recreated ”(再現蘭蘇園). Collecting materials from the neighbourhood such as abandoned stuffs and garbage was the first step in creating this work. With these abandoned materials, a local Portland-styled “Lan Su Yuan” was created. After talking with some locals residing in Portland, it was found that most of them have not visited “Lan Su Yuan” before. Their feelings towards a Chinese garden in a Western city were mixed with unfamiliarity and foreignness. Therefore, this work was made with materials they are familiar with so as to recreate “Lan Su Yuan” in a new way, and yet retaining the essence of traditional Chinese culture.

There are nine scenic spots in “Lan Su Yuan”, which are

錦雲堂 Hall of Brocade Cloud,

畫舫煙雨 Painted boat in Misty Rain

鎖月亭 Moon-locking Pavilion

涵虛閣 Tower of Cosmetic Reflection

半窗擁翠 Half a window Clustered in Green

沁香仙館 Celestial House of Permeating Fragrance

浣 花春雨榭 Flowers Bathing in Spring Rain

倒影清漪軒 Reflections in Clear Ripples

知魚亭 Knowing the fish Pavilion

“Lan Su Yuan Recreated” is a compilation of nine works which were based on the nine scenic spots in “Lan Su Yuan”, including

錦雲 Brocade Cloud

畫舫煙雨 Painted boat in Misty Rain,

鎖月 Moon-locking

涵虛 Cosmetic Reflection

半窗擁翠 Half a window Clustered in Green

沁香 Permeating Fragrance

浣花春雨 Flowers Bathing in Spring Rain

倒影清漪 Reflections in Clear Ripples

知魚 Knowing the fish

The works preserve the original meaning of the scenic spots and are expressed in a poetic way.