Shuiqin
2023
Multimedia installation
color video projection
soil and dry leaves
Variable misure
Feet let people go aroung
Flowers and weeds
Can go farther than us even without feet
They grow and live, not for people to see
Water and land
Grow and survive
More weeds and trees on the Earth
Whether people can see it or not
Aren’t they all dying on their own?
They have not missed their own growth
Flowering, fruiting and multiplying
It’s been there for generations
Wind and sun
Life and death
2022, Zerbo
Flowers and weeds
Can go farther than us even without feet
They grow and live, not for people to see
Water and land
Grow and survive
More weeds and trees on the Earth
Whether people can see it or not
Aren’t they all dying on their own?
They have not missed their own growth
Flowering, fruiting and multiplying
It’s been there for generations
Wind and sun
Life and death
2022, Zerbo
Shui Qin is a video installation that offers a glimpse into the connection between human beings, nature and cultural memory. The artist, born in China and raised in Italy, chose a particular setting, the Po river in Pieve Porto Morone, an area characterized by a strong contrast between the wild and agricultural landscape. This contrast is emphasized by the sowing of wild celery (shui qin), native to China, in a context strongly linked to intensive agriculture. The act of sowing takes on a profound meaning, as the artist is inspired by the gesture of his father, who ten years earlier had sown Chinese celery in another part of Italy. This gesture becomes a bridge between generations and cultures, uniting the past with the present through a primitive and universal activity such as sowing. The use of the Chinese (Changshanese) dialect in the recording of the poem adds another layer of complexity to the performance, emphasizing the importance of culture and roots in human experience. The sounds of nature recorded live on the Po river contribute to creating an authentic atmosphere in tune with the theme of the connection between man and the surrounding environment. Silvia Vannacci