This project is to reconfigure the meaning of my material and explore how translation allows my material to cross borders of language, culture, region, time, scale and value. And it is also important to consider how translations are made with a specific purpose in mind through iteration.
I was very lucky to attent the bonfire night at Battersea Park again this year. I was really happy to see the sizzling vonfire and the stunning fireworks. Due to the environmental pollluction, fireworks have been banned in Shanghai for a few years now, this bonfire night really touched me and gave me some inspiration that I want to take into my translation project.
My first experiment was to visually relay the physical meaning of fireworks in terms of geometry and colour, giving them texture. During the course of my experiments I found that the fireworks bloomed in shapes that resembled flowers and I loved these abstract shapes.
Fireworks are romantic, beautiful, auspicious and have extremely beautiful symbolic meanings. People enjoy fireworks with their beloved, family and friends and make wishes as they burst into bloom. My second experiment was an exchange of value, transcribing physical phenomena into beautiful words to reflect people’s wishes and blessings.
The fireworks are as beautiful as a river full of stars when they are in full bloom. My third experiment was to extract elements of fireworks and post-process them to make an illustrated book of fireworks in imitation of a nature book.