Mountains Beyond 山外山 2024 Interactive Ink Art Installation 800 × 800 × 310 cm Commission Project by UOB Art Academy & Art Central Mountains Beyond is an interactive ink art installation which is a large-scale installation that examine the impact of light pollution on both humanity and the natural environment. By fostering interaction between man and nature through space and time, the artwork inspires viewers to consider human impact on our surroundings.
The landscape painting portrays the scenery of uninhabited islands in Hong Kong through a panoramic and monumental composition. I authentically present the islands in the aesthetic of ink rubbing. Rubbing is a traditional art form using dabber, ink and other materials to transfer textures onto paper, resulting in a white-on-black representation and preserving memories and records with authenticity. I honour the untouched beauty of the islands in this spirit, leaving white space - a concept central to traditional Chinese painting - against the dynamism of the city's development.
To transcend the flatness often found in landscape paintings and to let audiences get into a variety of visual and spatial experiences, I have mounted the landscape painting onto the inner walls of a cylindrical structure, providing viewers with various vantage points as they navigate through the space. The installation, set atop a reflective surface patterned with water ripples, creates a connection between the self, the environment and nature.
Urban development and transformation often disrupt nature's delicate balance, resulting in ecological damage. While light symbolizes beauty, warmth and positivity, light pollution also plays a significant role in ecological disturbances. Sources such as neon lights, buildings and everyday illumination all contribute to obscuring the night sky's starry beauty. The LEDs in the installation represent the pervasiveness of artificial light. By highlighting the impact of light pollution through LED lights that adjust based on the number of visitors and their proximity, I prompt reflection on the coexistence of human and nature, light and light pollution, shedding light on the consequences of our pursuit of glamour.