Story
Life
is a self-confrontation game, where we're both player and opponent.
At the narrative's core stands the protagonist, an architect weaving the "house of life," a symbolic edifice where each chamber represents a chessboard in the Go of existence. Architectural elements, like traditional Chinese knots intricately interlaced within the environment, extend the chessboard metaphor, entwining life's complex patterns with the cyclical flow of Go. Participants engage physically and interactively with these ethereal spaces, embodying the dynamic interplay of Yin and Yang, much like the contrasting black and white stones dancing across the game board.
The experience beckons participants to delve into profound
dualities: light and dark, transformation and constancy. They are not
mere spectators but active creators in their own metamorphosis,
exploring harmony within the opposition and rediscovering the self
through perpetual change. By embracing these interconnected cycles,
they gain personal insights and perceive the underlying unity within
life's eternal rhythms, echoing the deep philosophical tenets of
Chinese thought.
"Will we ultimately find ourselves?"
Loop & Transformation & Composition
The entire design encapsulates the 'turn' and 'transformation' of the self, with the 'loop' laying the groundwork and fermenting into the later 'transformation,' becoming the ultimate expression of self-contemplation, growth, and unity after opposition.
Loop
Path
The VR experience path is designed as a spiral ring structure, incorporating the geometric paradox of the Penrose stairs, which continuously ascend or descend in an infinite loop. This symbolizes the human experience in society, where one appears to be progressing upward yet continuously faces downward challenges, or remains in a cycle of repetition at the same point.
Go Board grid & Chinese Knot
The entwined grid of the Go board and Chinese knots form a web of life's intricacies, one with a bound and the other with a blessing. As black and white engage in play, the game cycle unfolds, merging with the endless reincarnation and trans-composition of Yin and Yang in Chinese philosophy.
Chinese lamp
In Chinese culture, lanterns symbolize auspiciousness and blessings. The lights illuminated in each area also ignite hopes and cast shadows, much like a "carousel," forming a cycle of rotation.
Light and Shadow
In both day and night, the light and shadow of lanterns exhibit different variations and alternations.
Go Game
The design of the Go board is cyclic. In the later stages of a Go game, a "threefold repetition" (Sanke) can occur, where both black and white sides repeatedly capture each other's stones in the same place. This mirrors the infinite repetitions found in life's events, where differences and repetitions intertwine. To prevent the game from devolving into a meaningless "thousand-day battle," white stones introduce variations, allowing captures to be repeated only within these differences. This mutual exchange weaves together the interplay of difference and repetition.
"Opposition and Unity: Embracing the Duality of Self and Perspective Shifts."
The Figure-Ground Illusion, also known as the Rubin vase or "The Two Faces, One Vase Illusion," elegantly portrays a captivating composition. Here, the Rubin vase merges with elements of Chinese aesthetics, crafted as the base of a stone table used for playing Go. It symbolizes the opposition between two surfaces, yet in essence, they are one, representing the continuous transformation of inner self-conflict.
The Decoration Patterns
The
fusion of various styles of Chinese knots with decorative patterns of
paper-cutting and shadow puppetry characters echoes and symbolizes the
cycle and transformation of life.
The Number Nine"
In Chinese culture, the number "nine" symbolizes longevity and completeness. There is the saying 'nine returns to one,' symbolizing cyclic recurrence. The work presents elements such as the Nine-Bend Bridge, nine rounds of the game, nine doors, and nine windows, echoing the twists and turns of life experiences.
Transformation & Composition
Introspection Before the Mirror
As individuals reflect upon themselves in front of the mirror, their perspective shifts from white pieces to black pieces, signifying a transformative inversion between light and dark.
Windows of Contemplation
Within a room symbolizing aging, the windows of memory sequentially open, symbolizing the release of burdens after a transformation of the mind.
Interchanging Chessboards
Within the pavilion, simultaneous interchanging chessboards represent a multi-layered transformation, symbolizing a deeper level of metamorphosis.
Commencement and Conclusion
The departing position becomes a "transformation" echoing the starting point, where a similar position signifies a different elevation, denoting the nuanced evolution of experiences.
