Beyond the Seas: References and Case Studies

Project Theme: Beyond the Seas

The theme “Beyond the Seas” sounds interesting to work with and we are able to look into fairy tales, folklore and mythology revolving around Asia/South East Asia. As a Chinese, I knew I wanted to work on something that is relatable to the Chinese community. The aim of the project is to make fusion between the old, vintage and the new contemporary art. I immediately thought of working on the topic of Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore. The timeframe of this module fits perfectly into dates of the Hungry Ghost Festival (August 22th – September 19th) this year. This would allow me to soak into the local Chinese culture and experience the festival first hand.

Similar to the Western culture where they have Halloween, the Chinese have the Hungry Ghost Festival (also known as Zhong Yuan Jie 中元节), it is where the spirits of the dead are believed to roam the mortal world on the seventh month of the Lunar calendar. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during this time for spirits to seek food, offerings, and entertainment.

Here is a short introductory video of the Hungry Ghost Festival:

Since it is just the beginning the Hungry Ghost Festival, I decided to visit a Chinese Temple at 49 Defu Lane 12 that is celebrating this event to collect some visual references and to also feel the atmosphere:

FOCUS:
To capture the essence of the Hungry Ghost Festival and to also explore the relationship between the living and the dead as two worlds collide.

POSSIBLE EXPLORATION:

IDEA #1
PAPER with CHINESE MOTIFS

Paper is a recurring element throughout the Hungry Ghost Festival, it is common in many Asian religious belief systems and usually presented in various forms. When paper being burnt, it became an abstract idea where it is like the alias of items, send to the netherworld and materialising there into actual items.

IDEA #2
SMOKE with ATMOSPHERIC LIGHTS

The air is usually thick with incense smoke as people congregate to burn their offerings. Another unique part of Hungry Ghost Festival is the “Getai” (Songs Stage), it functions to entertain both the living and the dead. The stage is usually decorated with coloured lights.

ARTIST REFERENCES THAT MAY INSPIRE:

Cai Guo–Qiang 蔡国强