譚婧
2021
H.200 x W.200 cm
Herbs and spices, plaster, wire, aroma essence, soil
Commissioned by Rockbund Art Museum Parasite HK
A dog has come and left behind a trail of clues throughout the exhibition space or visitors to piece together what may have taken place. The artist imagines her grandfather has reincarnated as a dog and in his new form, pursues memories of scent and taste from a life spent in the subtropics, unfurling the forgotten personal histories. Tan Jing's grandparents repatriated to China from Thailand in the 1950s, and she often senses their grappling with personal identity and their failing to belong. In addition, talking about pain or showing vulnerability was frowned upon in her patriarchal household that values stoicism and resilience. This upbringing has had a significant impact on Tan's practice, which gravitates toward the sensitive poetic, and ambivalent. The result is an expression of fragility, a nebulous, obscure, indefinable, or even imperceptible exploration into the materials and the medium of sculpture. Through this site-specific installation, Tan also considers how olfactory memories shape one's self- awareness and the lasting effects of migration.