Aug, 2008
Chinese Character Biennale – Ku art center, Kufang International Art City, Huantie Lu, Chaoyang district, Beijing : “é“ (dà o, or Tao) in Chinese philosophy, is a fundamental concept signifying “the correct way,” or “Heaven’s way.” In the Confucian tradition, tao signifies a morally correct path of human conduct and is thus limited to behaviour. But in the rival school of Taoism (Dà ojiÄo é“æ•™), the concept takes on a metaphysical sense transcending the human realm. The é“å¾·ç» (Tao Te Ching – Dà odéjÄ«ng), a Taoist classic of contested authorship and date (sometime between the 8th and 3rd century bc), opens with these words: “The tao that can be spoken about is not the Absolute Tao.” The Absolute Tao thus defies verbal definition, but language can make suggestions that may lead to an intuitive or mystical understanding of this fundamental reality.” Britannica Encyclopedia on the concept of tao (Chinese philosophy). #000000 – (Installation view – 100 Xuanzhi calligraphy paper sheets, cotton, wood, polished steel, intravenous drip and ink – 4m x 3m x 3m). Exhibition runs for six month: 2nd August, 2008 – 6th September, 2008 Curated by Pan Xinglei, Koan Jeff Baysa, Li Shi. Eric Van Hove |