Kong Qian-yangAbout

Last Words Of The Dust I

2024
69 x 61cm
cotton drill, cigarette ash, paper ash, wall paint and PVA. 


Ningbo, China, 2024Dust, speaking the the sentiment of the disintegration of the life form, alluding the residue of what once was, encapsulates both the destruction and the persistence of existence. This duality—where destruction leads to a form of persistence, albeit in a transformed state— glorifies a philosophical viewpoint that the ultimate life form exists resembling dust dispelled by the wind. This metaphor vividly illustrates the delicate and elusive nature of this project, where capturing fleeting moments is akin to grasping something inherently uncontainable and futile.

In the context of this project, I particularly focus on a monument that was lingering in an almost demolished site. This site, now a shadow of its former grandeur, witnessing how architectural heritage fades over time, much like dust. The monument, lingering amidst the ruins, becomes a poignant reminder of the past, embodying the historical and cultural essence that once thrived in that space.

By examining a monument that has withstood a century, I delve into the ideologies that shaped feudal Chinese society. These ideologies, though originating in a distant past, continue to exert influence in the present. The elaborate facade, with its typical Chinese cornices and columns, articulates the narratives and ideologies that once defined them. The investigation of the monument thus serves as a bridge between past and present, illustrating how certain values and beliefs endure despite the relentless march of time, provoking a deeper understanding of how history and ideology are carried forward, even as physical forms disintegrate. Have those entrenched ideologies been dispersed by wind like dust?

In essence, this project invites viewers to contemplate the persistent yet transient nature of human existence and cultural heritage, metaphorized through the imagery of dust and the enduring yet fragile component of the facade. It underscores the ongoing dialogue between past and present, and how the remnants of history continue to shape our contemporary identity.