14/03/2025
《時刻印記》| Imprints of Time
The essence of time continually inspires both philosophy and art — it is both enduring and fleeting; an irreversible flow and an eternal presence. In the exhibition "Imprints of Time," we utilize photography and ceramics to explore the multifaceted nature of time and how it shapes nature, life, and memory. These works not only illustrate the flow and traces of time but also invite viewers to reflect on their relationship with it — How do we leave our mark in the river of time?
Continuity: The Accumulation of Time and Memories
The continuity of time is manifest in nature. Each crack in the earth and every layer of sediment speaks the language of time, witnessing the world's changes and recording nature's history. The photographic works of Janet Choi focus on this theme, magnifying the soil along the shores of the Dead Sea in Israel to capture its layered fractures and transformations, showcasing the accumulation of time. These geological textures represent not only the physical evidence of geological processes but also a tangible form of time, chronicling history and preserving ancient memories.
Through macro photography, we can closely examine the details of natural textures, revealing how time leaves indelible marks in the material world. Time is not merely an abstract concept; it is a concrete, touchable reality. It operates silently, shaping both our world and our memories. These textures remind us that the present is not an isolated existence but a culmination of past moments. Each crack and accumulation signifies time's imprint, urging us to recognize our place within its continuum.
Instantaneity: Irreversible Changes and Creation
In contrast to continuity, the momentary nature of time is full of power and change, with fire symbolizing this best. It plays a crucial role in May Loo’s ceramics, where she draws inspiration from nature. By employing Wood firing and Obvara firing techniques, she marries the momentary essence of fire with the continuity of nature. Bark-like textures symbolize external protection and internal tension, while tree rings mark the flow of time. The surface textures document life’s adaptations to external forces and internal tension, reflecting erosion and environmental changes, while the accumulation of tree rings illustrates growth and temporal continuity. These plant textures not only express transitions of time but also nature's resilience. Under high temperatures, materials transform and solidify, becoming tangible representations of time's dual nature—both the instantaneous change and the enduring accumulation.
In her works, the role of fire further deepens this interpretation. The Wood firing and Obvara firing techniques create surfaces adorned with traces of burn and ash. These patterns and colors continuously evolve under intense heat, forming naturally and uniquely—symbolizing the fleeting and irreversible nature of time. Yet, these changes become permanent imprints on the ceramics, serving as witnesses to time. The uncontrollable and momentary aspects of these imprints render each piece unique, illustrating how time shapes the interplay of continuity and disruption, individuality, and memory.
Interweaving: Changes between Instantaneity and Eternity
In Janet Choi and May Loo’s collaborative works, the continuity and momentary aspects of time coexist. Through cyanotype and ceramic techniques, we merge natural textures with solidified clay, capturing moments while endowing them with permanence. Human body and skin transform into life’s imprints through light and shadow, while ceramics preserve these fleeting moments in the material world.
These works aim to unveil the nature of time—it is not merely a linear progression but an accumulation of layers. At the intersection of the moment and the eternal, time becomes embedded in the textures of nature and life. Each moment carries memories, experiences, and emotions, leaving its mark on us.
Time is not just a record of the past; it extends into the present and future. We leave marks in time, and time also etches traces upon us. This elicits a re-evaluation of the meaning of time—it is both transient and eternal; both individual fragments and the trajectory of life. Perhaps time has many forms we have yet to notice? In between the moment and the eternity, it manifests the endless transformation of life. This is our contemplation on the meaning of time and life.
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📍 Exhibition Details
📅 Opening | March 8, 2025 (12:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
📅 Exhibition Period |March 8 – 30, 2025 (12:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
Open on Saturdays & Sundays (By appointment on other days)
🏠 Venue | Here:Now Artspace
B6, 6/F, ADC Artspace, 39 Yip Kan Street, Wong Chuk Hang
