THE HEART

Grease, plaster, metal, hair, sewer garbage
Dimensions variable
2024

The Heart is a socially critical art project inspired by sewers—an often overlooked but vital component of urban life. Victor Hugo once described sewers as “the conscience of the city.” Due to historical reasons, China’s sewer system lacks integrity, and its rectification faces significant challenges and requires substantial resource investment. Through the metaphor of sewers and grease, I intend to reveal the neglected filth and darkness within the city.

The sculpture consists of an alien form and frozen grease. The sewer, as a source of inspiration, represents the neglected foundation of the city, while the grease symbolizes accumulated dirt and hidden secrets. In the work, the frozen grease slowly melts, gradually revealing the sewer waste embedded within it. This process presents the city’s hidden problems directly to the viewer, echoing the work’s exploration of the darker side of society.

The experimental video revolves around the “Whitechapel Grease Mountain” and explores the hidden corners of the sewer system. Through visual language, the video reveals the complex ecology and unknown narratives within the city’s underground, further expanding the viewer’s understanding and reflection on the “conscience of the city.”

THE HEART

Moving Image
2’25’’
2024