Venice Biennale 2012: Originaire / China Pavilion

From the curator Fang Zhenning: “Originaire” is a word created to combine the meanings of “original” and “initial”. In the Chinese language, the character for “source” is specifically in the context of the water source. As such, we invoke the idea of “originaire” to seek the origin of memory and a mental image of the original world. Five architects, artists, and designers were asked to create five installations from different perspectives to represent different interpretations of the meaning of “originaire”. Wang Yu’s Square Garden, which is situated on the green lawn of the Virginia Park, is his abstract analysis and translations of his studies on the elements of settlements and villages. Wei Chunyu’s Variation proposes an experience of temporal and spatial change through the transformation of physical materials. Shao Weiping (BIAD Ufo)’s Sequence uses slices to create a linear representation of a Möbius strip. Tao Na’s Palace in the Sky provides an interactive approach for visitors to experience time and space travel between Earth, the planets, and the external galaxies. Xu Dongliang’s Lightopia conjures a scene of campfire and night sky during the prehistoric age.

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