Summoning
The Chinese context of god is an extension of daily life, rather than a separation from it. How the god supports and reconstructs contemporary life? How does it subtly affect people’s mentality and state of mind? How do people of different races and cultures share their beliefs and spiritual pursuits? Based on my curiosity about the spiritual world and future uncertainties in mortal life, I explored folk beliefs to elucidate life's problems and symbolic culture.
“Summoning” combined the oral history of folklore in my hometown Guangdong, China and my experiences of living in London. In a metaphorical way, it discusses the spiritual connection of Western and Eastern cultures via different symbols. These symbols and underlying stories come from folklores, novels, and fairy tales. In my visual choice, I created fictional reality with my camera, concealed scenes with regional features; and integrated daily life items, such as: garlic, wardrobe, candles, etc. to make them look universal. In some of the images, I injected my personal abstract comprehension of faith. Photography is a bridge of my imagination and reality, I hope to know stories of different cultures through it, excavate the shared beliefs that seem to exist across them.
Chapter I
Chapter II
Waxing Crescent Moon
