Project by Amy Ding
The character Chi (气) in Chinese stands for air, gas, and atmosphere, emphasizing its flow through traditional gardens. In the project, I start with exploring how plants and materials from the Chinese Scholar’s Garden, brought in 40 containers, carry Chineseness and evoke Chi. By integrating Chinese water, soil, and air, the project raises the question of what makes something “more Chinese.” It introduces three processes: the Ming dynasty-style garden, systems preserving Chinese-sourced air and water, and a generator that converts distilled water to “Chinese” at the molecular level. The project also examines how Chi flows in commodified American spaces, like the Apple Store and Christmas gift shop, where Chi is polluted by industrial waste. These spaces reflect a new form of “becoming Chinese,” where once Chineseness is framed through the lens of dualistic objectification, the very pursuit of making it “more” Chinese is precisely where it begins to fail.
