Image : “Wang from a hospital in Chengdu, depicted seven bright spots lined up next to each other with varying intensities, creating a surreal scene that many compared to an otherworldly planet. The video, which lasted about a minute and was visible from multiple angles, quickly engaged viewers. However, what seemed like a cosmic spectacle was actually an optical illusion.The phenomenon was caused by light refracting through the layered glass of the hospital window, producing what are known as "virtual images." Each pane of glass contributed to the appearance of a separate sun.” - timesofindia.indiatimes.com
The Seven Suns : The Prelude Series
2024 -
The Seven Suns : The Prelude Series derives from a viral video from a hospital in Chengdu, China depicting a surreal scene of an optical illusion of seven Suns. The phenomenon was caused by light refracting through the layered glass of the hospital window, producing ‘virtual images’.
This ‘virtual images’ reflect the description of apocalypse and supernova told in Buddhist canon - Tripitaka. Envisioned by Lord Buddha, the end of the Earth and world system that extended to realm of divinity as seven Suns appear in the sky (Sattasūriya Sutta). Some contemporary Buddhist scholars interpret this as being the stages in the life of the Sun (Brahmali Bhikku) and metaphorical (Sujato Bhikku).
The Seven Suns explores concept of “spacetimemattering as forces in producing material-cultural world, through the intra-actions between human and nonhuman (matter)”. It juxtaposes a knowledge-body of the past with contemporary phenomenon in form of ‘virtual images’ reflecting Anthropocene discourse and ecological thinkings.
2024 -
The Seven Suns : The Prelude Series derives from a viral video from a hospital in Chengdu, China depicting a surreal scene of an optical illusion of seven Suns. The phenomenon was caused by light refracting through the layered glass of the hospital window, producing ‘virtual images’.
This ‘virtual images’ reflect the description of apocalypse and supernova told in Buddhist canon - Tripitaka. Envisioned by Lord Buddha, the end of the Earth and world system that extended to realm of divinity as seven Suns appear in the sky (Sattasūriya Sutta). Some contemporary Buddhist scholars interpret this as being the stages in the life of the Sun (Brahmali Bhikku) and metaphorical (Sujato Bhikku).
The Seven Suns explores concept of “spacetimemattering as forces in producing material-cultural world, through the intra-actions between human and nonhuman (matter)”. It juxtaposes a knowledge-body of the past with contemporary phenomenon in form of ‘virtual images’ reflecting Anthropocene discourse and ecological thinkings.
Un-forming
October 19 - September 23, 2024
Gallery VER
Our shared planet is increasingly being confronted by unpredictable, abrupt, and continuous changes to natural environments. Gallery VER would like to invite gallerygoers to explore the potential of human beings to not only adapt themselves to, but also rehabilitate from, such severe conditions. This artistic survey of the works of eleven artists under the title “Un-Forming” attempts to (re)connect people with their organic surroundings, as well as with the diversity and changeability of others. For this project, ‘water’ has been chosen as the major theme due to its highly flexible, fluid, flowing, and shape-shifting characteristics.
“Un-Forming” extrapolates the notion of fluidity borrowed from the symbol of water to the concepts of thinking, emotion, and remembrance. Several artists featured in this exhibition utilize water as their starting point in exploring sustainability and culture, as well as the connection between individuals and other people, society, and environment. Their main task is reminding us of the important role of humans as but one category of habitants in our global community and natural world. With the impact and guidance of the artworks, viewers may ponder the position of themselves and others as contributors to the tackling of the issue of transformation of nature, no matter the background from which they originate: social activists, artists, or members of the general population. Another message conveyed in this show relates to the realization that human beings possess an impressive capacity for resilience in the face of environmental changes and catastrophes, despite extreme difficulties.
The artists represented in “Un-Forming” utilize various strategies in presenting their ‘water’-related messages. Some employ their preferred techniques and materials in an artistic way to illuminate the issues and ties between culture and natural surroundings. Others utilize contemporary and/or mixed media techniques to posit ideas about our complex social structures. Others still arrange their works in an attempt to launch their viewers into exercises of sensory experience. Regardless of material and method, the curation of all pieces exhibited in this show is based on the objective of reflecting the unique, individual perspective of each artist, as well as relating to two major discourses, those of ‘change’ and ‘self-adjustment’.
October 19 - September 23, 2024
Gallery VER
Our shared planet is increasingly being confronted by unpredictable, abrupt, and continuous changes to natural environments. Gallery VER would like to invite gallerygoers to explore the potential of human beings to not only adapt themselves to, but also rehabilitate from, such severe conditions. This artistic survey of the works of eleven artists under the title “Un-Forming” attempts to (re)connect people with their organic surroundings, as well as with the diversity and changeability of others. For this project, ‘water’ has been chosen as the major theme due to its highly flexible, fluid, flowing, and shape-shifting characteristics.
“Un-Forming” extrapolates the notion of fluidity borrowed from the symbol of water to the concepts of thinking, emotion, and remembrance. Several artists featured in this exhibition utilize water as their starting point in exploring sustainability and culture, as well as the connection between individuals and other people, society, and environment. Their main task is reminding us of the important role of humans as but one category of habitants in our global community and natural world. With the impact and guidance of the artworks, viewers may ponder the position of themselves and others as contributors to the tackling of the issue of transformation of nature, no matter the background from which they originate: social activists, artists, or members of the general population. Another message conveyed in this show relates to the realization that human beings possess an impressive capacity for resilience in the face of environmental changes and catastrophes, despite extreme difficulties.
The artists represented in “Un-Forming” utilize various strategies in presenting their ‘water’-related messages. Some employ their preferred techniques and materials in an artistic way to illuminate the issues and ties between culture and natural surroundings. Others utilize contemporary and/or mixed media techniques to posit ideas about our complex social structures. Others still arrange their works in an attempt to launch their viewers into exercises of sensory experience. Regardless of material and method, the curation of all pieces exhibited in this show is based on the objective of reflecting the unique, individual perspective of each artist, as well as relating to two major discourses, those of ‘change’ and ‘self-adjustment’.
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There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, a seventh sun appears. When this happens, this great earth and Sineru the king of mountains erupt in one burning mass of fire. And as they blaze and burn the flames are swept by the wind as far as the realm of divinity.
2024. Gold-leaves, pigment and mixed media on clear-primed linen sharped canvas. 100 x 56.13 cm approx. Unique. |
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There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed—many years, many hundreds, many thousands, many hundreds of thousands of years—the heavens fail to rain. When this happens, the plants and seeds, the herbs, grass, and big trees wither away and dry up, and are no more. There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, a second sun, a third sun, a forth sun, a fifth sun, a sixth sun then a seventh sun appear…
2024. Gold-leaves, pigment and mixed media on clear-primed linen sharped canvas. 100 x 39.33/56.84 cm approx. Unique. |
The Seven Suns : Sattasūriya Sutta (Excerpt)
English translation by Bhikkhu Sujato on suttacentral.net
Sineru, the king of mountains, is 84,000 leagues long and 84,000 leagues wide. It sinks 84,000 leagues below the ocean and rises 84,000 leagues above it. There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed—many years, many hundreds, many thousands, many hundreds of thousands of years—the heavens fail to rain. When this happens, the plants and seeds, the herbs, grass, and big trees wither away and dry up, and are no more. So impermanent are conditions, so unstable, so unreliable. This is quite enough for you to become disillusioned, dispassionate, and freed regarding all conditions. There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, a second sun appears. When this happens, the streams and pools wither away and dry up, and are no more. So impermanent are conditions …
There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, a third sun appears. When this happens, the great rivers—the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī—wither away and dry up, and are no more. So impermanent are conditions …
There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, a fourth sun appears. When this happens, the great lakes from which the rivers originate—the Anotattā, Sīhapapātā, Rathakārā, Kaṇṇamuṇḍā, Kuṇālā, Chaddantā, and Mandākinī—wither away and dry up, and are no more. So impermanent are conditions …
There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, a fifth sun appears. When this happens, the water in the ocean sinks by a hundred leagues. It sinks by two, three, four, five, six, or even seven hundred leagues. The water that remains in the ocean is only seven palm trees deep. It’s six, five, four, three, two, or even one palm tree deep. The water that remains in the ocean is only seven fathoms deep. It’s six, five, four, three, two, one or even half a fathom deep. It’s waist high, knee high, or even ankle high. It’s like in autumn, when the heavens rain heavily and water remains here and there in the cows’ hoofprints. In the same way, water in the ocean remains here and there in puddles like cows’ hoofprints. When the fifth sun appears there’s not even enough water left in the great ocean for the tip of the toe. So impermanent are conditions …
There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, a sixth sun appears. When this happens, this great earth and Sineru the king of mountains smoke and smolder and give off fumes. It’s like when a potter’s kiln is first kindled, and it smokes and smolders and gives off fumes. In the same way, this great earth and Sineru the king of mountains smoke and smolder and give off fumes. So impermanent are conditions …
There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, a seventh sun appears. When this happens, this great earth and Sineru the king of mountains erupt in one burning mass of fire. And as they blaze and burn the flames are swept by the wind as far as the realm of divinity. Sineru the king of mountains blazes and burns, crumbling as it’s overcome by the great fire. And meanwhile, mountain peaks a hundred leagues high, or two, three, four, or five hundred leagues high disintegrate as they burn. And when the great earth and Sineru the king of mountains blaze and burn, no soot or ash is found. It’s like when ghee or oil blaze and burn, and neither ashes nor soot are found. In the same way, when the great earth and Sineru the king of mountains blaze and burn, no soot or ash is found. So impermanent are conditions, so unstable are conditions, so unreliable are conditions. This is quite enough for you to become disillusioned, dispassionate, and freed regarding all conditions.
Mendicants, who would ever think or believe that this earth and Sineru, king of mountains, will burn and crumble and be no more, except for one who has seen the truth?”
English translation by Bhikkhu Sujato on suttacentral.net
Sineru, the king of mountains, is 84,000 leagues long and 84,000 leagues wide. It sinks 84,000 leagues below the ocean and rises 84,000 leagues above it. There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed—many years, many hundreds, many thousands, many hundreds of thousands of years—the heavens fail to rain. When this happens, the plants and seeds, the herbs, grass, and big trees wither away and dry up, and are no more. So impermanent are conditions, so unstable, so unreliable. This is quite enough for you to become disillusioned, dispassionate, and freed regarding all conditions. There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, a second sun appears. When this happens, the streams and pools wither away and dry up, and are no more. So impermanent are conditions …
There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, a third sun appears. When this happens, the great rivers—the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī—wither away and dry up, and are no more. So impermanent are conditions …
There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, a fourth sun appears. When this happens, the great lakes from which the rivers originate—the Anotattā, Sīhapapātā, Rathakārā, Kaṇṇamuṇḍā, Kuṇālā, Chaddantā, and Mandākinī—wither away and dry up, and are no more. So impermanent are conditions …
There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, a fifth sun appears. When this happens, the water in the ocean sinks by a hundred leagues. It sinks by two, three, four, five, six, or even seven hundred leagues. The water that remains in the ocean is only seven palm trees deep. It’s six, five, four, three, two, or even one palm tree deep. The water that remains in the ocean is only seven fathoms deep. It’s six, five, four, three, two, one or even half a fathom deep. It’s waist high, knee high, or even ankle high. It’s like in autumn, when the heavens rain heavily and water remains here and there in the cows’ hoofprints. In the same way, water in the ocean remains here and there in puddles like cows’ hoofprints. When the fifth sun appears there’s not even enough water left in the great ocean for the tip of the toe. So impermanent are conditions …
There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, a sixth sun appears. When this happens, this great earth and Sineru the king of mountains smoke and smolder and give off fumes. It’s like when a potter’s kiln is first kindled, and it smokes and smolders and gives off fumes. In the same way, this great earth and Sineru the king of mountains smoke and smolder and give off fumes. So impermanent are conditions …
There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, a seventh sun appears. When this happens, this great earth and Sineru the king of mountains erupt in one burning mass of fire. And as they blaze and burn the flames are swept by the wind as far as the realm of divinity. Sineru the king of mountains blazes and burns, crumbling as it’s overcome by the great fire. And meanwhile, mountain peaks a hundred leagues high, or two, three, four, or five hundred leagues high disintegrate as they burn. And when the great earth and Sineru the king of mountains blaze and burn, no soot or ash is found. It’s like when ghee or oil blaze and burn, and neither ashes nor soot are found. In the same way, when the great earth and Sineru the king of mountains blaze and burn, no soot or ash is found. So impermanent are conditions, so unstable are conditions, so unreliable are conditions. This is quite enough for you to become disillusioned, dispassionate, and freed regarding all conditions.
Mendicants, who would ever think or believe that this earth and Sineru, king of mountains, will burn and crumble and be no more, except for one who has seen the truth?”