Documentation

Documents the process of transferring black and white images of camphor trees in my hometown onto drawing paper and making pencil drawings, as well as my experiments with drawing and magnetic powder.

Part 1:

Photographed by my father, 2023

The streets of my hometown are lined with camphor trees. From the time I was born to the time I grew up, these camphor trees accompanied me together with my family, and as long as I mention my hometown, I will think of these camphor trees. When I returned to my hometown a few years ago, the camphor trees remained as if nothing had changed, but the lives of others around me had altered dramatically. So I thought it would be nice if I could keep those beautiful, unforgettable memories of those around me in my mind, but as time passed, I discovered that my memories had gradually become inaccurate, and I desperately wanted to record them completely, but I couldn't restore them to their rightful form, and in the end, I was just recording a memory that was gradually fading away.

In the beginning, I considered how to create art that was both accurate and objective but also twisted, ambiguous, and even abstract, so I chose image transfers and utilized specific techniques throughout the printing process to change the final outcome of the image to make it less precise and objective.

The record of my creative, 2023

I asked my father to photograph the camphor trees in my hometown for me, and then I imported the photographs into Photoshop for black and white processing, separated them into 9 parts, then printed off the 9 pieces one by one for image transfer processing.

The record of my creative, 2023

I used actisolve graffiti remover (Ink pigment thinner) to spray on the back of the printed camphor tree image to dilute the ink, and then placed it on the paper to print with a traditional printing press. Throughout the process, I changed the position of the actisolve graffiti remover, the length of time it was placed onto the drawing paper, and the print strength to alter the final print, making it fuzzy and unclear in some areas and even taking on the green color of the ink.

The record of my creative, 2023

Since the printing process was not always straightforward and I had a number of produced goods as well as failures, I chose some of these works to create pencil drawings.

The record of my creative, 2023

Drawing with pencil and creating very fine textures is the emphasis of my drawing practice; it's a fascinating and enjoyable process.

The record of my creative, 2023

Then I considered how the work would be exhibited. I decided to exhibit the work flat on a tabletop due to the uncertainty of the magnetic powder and its inability to be glued to the drawing paper. There must be a gap between the work and the tabletop for me to utilize a magnet at the bottom of the work to change the shape of the magnetic powder. So I went in search of some wood and cut it to the same size, then supported the drawing with iron and acrylic sheets.

Scars of Memory, 2023, Summer Show at Camberwell College of Arts

Finally, I sprinkled magnetic powder on the drawing and moved a magnet around the bottom to vary the shape of the magnetic powder and obtain the final effect.

Part 2:

The record of my creative, 2023

Before I made the final creation, I did a lot of experiments with the magnetic powder, gradually learning about its properties and how to manipulate it. For example, I could use gum arabic to fix it on the paper, but the paper would curl, and what kind of techniques I could use to make the magnetic powder change into the form I wanted. I recorded several of my experiments and thought they were so interesting, demonstrating my material control and daring in experimentation, that I decided to make them into a full video.

How do I remember ?, 2023, Video

A moving video has a greater visual impact than a static one, which is always what I want to show to the audience.

How do I remember? (experiment), 2023, magnetic powder and pencil drawing on paper, A4

This is also a little part of my project to express the fading process. Things and your own recollections will eventually be altered by time or circumstance; can you recall what the thing looked like before it faded?