Every year during the Dragon Boat Festival, millions of Chinese commemorate the patriotic poet Qu Yuan. In the animation trilogy by artist Kong Khong-chang, alias Kungkee, the historical figure is reborn into a cyborg questioning his own identity.
Kong said he was curious about Qu Yuan when he first learned about the poet in middle school. "I was touched by his talent and his integrity. But I also find him to be a very mysterious person. There are so many blanks in his story that make me wonder."
Although Qu Yuan lived 2,000 years ago in the Warring States period, just before Emperor Qin Shihuang unified China, Kong finds the era fascinating.
"During the Warring States period, new knowledge, like bronze-making techniques, were embraced, new social and political systems were formed."Kong said the rapid changes and burst of new ideologies during the period reminds him of the time we are living in now.
It is also part of the reason why he wanted to reinterpret Qu Yuan's story. "Qu Yuan drowned himself because he felt betrayed and was losing his position with his beloved friend and king. He was facing an era of complete change like us today, and his story touched me."Aside from the trilogy, created from 2017 to 2020, the exhibition also showcases a few of Kong's more recent works.
In the Duplex Studio, three large screens shaped like arch windows play his latest work, Past / Present / Future / Bleeding / Tearing / Drifting. The site-specific artwork blends seamlessly into the architectural features of the studio, providing an immersive experience for the audience."When people think of Tai Kwun, they would first think of it as a warehouse or prison. But Duplex Studio seems different. On my first visit here, it felt like a chapel," he said. "So I wanted to transform this hall into a space that resembled a church and a cinema."
Another animation work, You Can Never Step in the Same River Twice, can be found in a secluded room at the end of the basement corridor. Echoing the philosophical question famously prompted by the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus, the piece shows a man continuously walking amid shifting tides. "I created this work in 2022, at the beginning of the pandemic. With a lot of time to myself, I thought about the fleeting nature of time."Additionally, the artist also gives us a glimpse into the creation process of these artworks. In the Making of Kongkee: Warring States Cyberpunk, initial drafts are displayed, as well as a replica of the real working stand of the artist. "I wanted to show people the backstage scenes," said Kong. "I even brought some of my real books to put on the working stand here."
Kongkee: Warring States Cyberpunk is showing at Tai Kwun until March 3.
