Moving Images of Stones on the Island


Nine hundred and fifty-nine days on the island.

Whenever my island friends and I hang out, we always wonder and joke about who will leave this island first. There's a saying among people who relocate to the island that it has its own preference; the island selects its inhabitants and won't let you go until it's your 'time.' Not sure if leaving means graduation or getting kicked out, though. My response has always been, 'I'll be here until I have a better option,' but deep down, the anxiety also whispers, 'Or until I can't afford it.' The island during Covid was different from now, and I fell in love with someone when they weren't entirely themselves. I stayed because I'm far too invested in this relationship, and it's still the closest to what I'd like to call my home.

My feelings for the island change like the weather. The landscape changed fast, and I wasn't prepared for this. It's strange to experience an example of time dilation on a tropical island; the clocks of visitors and locals run differently. Visitors just seem to have more time even though they become seasons to the island. The rule of capitalism's thumb is: if you have money, you can move fast but live slow.

I became overwhelmed by all the changes and tried to hold on to the view of stones and rock formations on the island as a comfort image—something that represents stillness and unchangingness. However, I soon realized that they are the witnesses, and witnesses can also experience trauma.

Moving Images of Stones on the Island is an ongoing project in which I look at the stones while the stones look at the island. Some of the locations featured in this series are actual locations, while some are a bit more metaphorical. I'm just an observer trying to screen-capture a moment of what's happening around the island and inside myself. I don't know what will happen next, but this is it for now.

Moving Images of Stones on the Island_July2023

color pencil on paper, wooden frame, etched glass, 46 x 61 cm, 2023

Moving Images of Stones on the Island_October2023

color pencil on paper, wooden frame, etched glass, 46 x 61 cm, 2023

Moving Images of Stones on the Island_November2023

color pencil on paper, wooden frame, etched glass, 46 x 61 cm, 2023

Moving Images of Stones on the Island_January2024_1

color pencil on paper, wooden frame, etched glass, 46 x 61 cm, 2024

Moving Images of Stones on the Island_January2024_2

color pencil on paper, wooden frame, etched glass, 46 x 61 cm, 2024


 

Moving Images of Stones on the Island_February2024

color pencil on paper, wooden frame, etched glass, 46 x 61 cm, 2024

installation view at Art Basel, Hong Kong 2024