The commissioned sculpture Soapy F-Tree consists of a life-sized replica of an oak tree trunk from London’s Hampstead Heath, where constant contact with people has tipped the tree over and rubbed its bark smooth. The artwork is made from soap, and emits a subdued aroma that references the field charged with desire and power dynamics in which these night visitors to the grove encounter each other. The tactile relationship between soap and the body also alludes to the ambiguity and physicality of intimate acts. In an accompanying photograph, two stalactites slowly approach each other and merge on a timescale beyond humanity, a metaphor for the hesitant, halting dance of the encounter.

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The sound of breathing heard throughout the space comes from the artwork Breathing Hermit, which could perhaps be seen as the artist’s “personal statement” on his cautious creative state. Conchs are scattered across the walls of the exhibition. These animals are adept at laying low, following the tides to conceal themselves among the waves, closely resembling certain marginalized groups in society. The dim orange light, the gradient colors of the walls, and the fragrance infused in the sand come to have a gaslight effect on the viewer, shaking their clarity about their own subjectivity and their position in time and space. Like “Soft conchs,” they remove their hard protective shells, and softly follow the artist into a space of desire between public and intimate, concealment and exposure.

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The exhibition is organized by Damien Zhang, Director of the Aranya Art Center, and Curatorial Assistant Jiang Ruoyu. The exhibition will be on view from October 27, 2024 through March 2, 2025.

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Co-comissioned in partnership with Gasworks (London) and Para Site (Hong Kong).

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This exhibition is supported by Magician Space.

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