Sung dynasty poems

installation from the poem As in a Dream, by Li Ching-chao ( 1084-?)
installation from the poem As in a Dream, by Li Ching-chao ( 1084-?)
Fragments of wood, put together, linked together, with threads
Fragments of wood, put together, linked together, with threads
framing a scene, through the slanted window, not yet a perfect screen, through which, moments to recall
framing a scene, through the slanted window, not yet a perfect screen, through which, moments to recall
images suggested by old poems, sounds incised in the inner hearts of mind, A vision, difficult to reframe, but is vivid, thanks to the growing weeds that keep the frames, alive, though abandoned
images suggested by old poems, sounds incised in the inner hearts of mind, A vision, difficult to reframe, but is vivid, thanks to the growing weeds that keep the frames, alive, though abandoned
the Poem of Ling Ching-chao, rewritten on the vertical pieces of wood, in Chinese
Translated version by D.C Lau, reproduced on the horizontal portion
the Poem of Ling Ching-chao, rewritten on the vertical pieces of wood, in Chinese Translated version by D.C Lau, reproduced on the horizontal portion
English version taken from the book SONG WITHOUT MUSIC: Chinese Tz'u Poetry, edited by Stephen C.Soong, A RENDITIONS BOOK, The Chinese University Press, Hong Kong 1980
English version taken from the book SONG WITHOUT MUSIC: Chinese Tz'u Poetry, edited by Stephen C.Soong, A RENDITIONS BOOK, The Chinese University Press, Hong Kong 1980
some broken branches after the storm, I gathered them together to form
another Frame of mind
some broken branches after the storm, I gathered them together to form another Frame of mind
painted with white, a cleansing attitude
painted with white, a cleansing attitude
with white thread to reassure their gathering together, in a group of light minded hearts
with white thread to reassure their gathering together, in a group of light minded hearts
the threads, when woven together from various sides, and angles, form and frames like a boat upon which ideas are flaoted across
the threads, when woven together from various sides, and angles, form and frames like a boat upon which ideas are flaoted across
a long forgotten image came into mind, in the verses of Wang Xi-zhi:
Though without the symphonic strength of silk cords and bamboo flutes, with a cup of wine and the recital of verses, we enjoy the gathering of cleansed and likened minds
a long forgotten image came into mind, in the verses of Wang Xi-zhi: Though without the symphonic strength of silk cords and bamboo flutes, with a cup of wine and the recital of verses, we enjoy the gathering of cleansed and likened minds
recalling this inner vision now externalised, I added some strings of cords from my Chinese musical instrument( the butterfly zither)- with the extra portions left aside to weave the already secured threads
recalling this inner vision now externalised, I added some strings of cords from my Chinese musical instrument( the butterfly zither)- with the extra portions left aside to weave the already secured threads
Another verse of Wang Xi-zhi then came in my mind, 
Such a day, Clear sky, Pure Air, Wind of wisdom, harmony played, a universal  vastness, various kinds of richess displayed, visions motion and visions enhanced within
Another verse of Wang Xi-zhi then came in my mind, Such a day, Clear sky, Pure Air, Wind of wisdom, harmony played, a universal vastness, various kinds of richess displayed, visions motion and visions enhanced within
a day of reconcilation and for celebration
a day of reconcilation and for celebration
in between the space, I see my past, in between the threads, I see my freedom
in between the space, I see my past, in between the threads, I see my freedom
the bamboo forest, planted by me, is now coming closer to a past which has its origin in Chinese calligraphy, the soul of painted Chinese marks, with a space and perfect balance of space
the bamboo forest, planted by me, is now coming closer to a past which has its origin in Chinese calligraphy, the soul of painted Chinese marks, with a space and perfect balance of space
Thus, an installation that pays homage to Wang Xi-zhi, whose versed I learned at sixteen, and whose calligraphy I came to admire at the age of eight
Thus, an installation that pays homage to Wang Xi-zhi, whose versed I learned at sixteen, and whose calligraphy I came to admire at the age of eight

Li Ching-chao

1084-?

the lady poet from Sung Dynasty

has been in my mind for years

Seeing the scattered pieces of wood

in my garden

I simply gathered them together

forming some kind of slanted frames

to frame a vision

from the ground

a vision a bit uncommon

to revive another

deep down vision

stored for ages

in my mind

The frames that open such visions

risk to lose their reference

once a storm comes in

Some thread is needed

to secure the reality

Once secured

the frames want some writing

the vertical ones

desire for the Li Ching- chao verses, in Chinese

the horizontal ones

then record the translated part

by Prof. D.C Lau

taken from a book given to me ages ago

The following is my own translated version

due to the respect for copyright issues

Abruptly the wind 

few drops of rain

last evening

Sound asleep

when waken

mind weakened

by wine

Trying to

ask

the one

that 

reveals the vision

when the blind

is up

yet she says

the Begonia

is intact

Do you not know

Do you not know

the green gets to grow

the red gets to diminish

(the use of poetry as inspiration began in 1982, but came back in 2015 as source of inspiration for installations- an inevitable means of expressions after my interest shown on Duchamp in 1989- a thesis which I wrote, titled ' Marcel Duchamp and Zen, a possible relationship? ')

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