Dao Gives Birth to One

In this video installation, HUNG Keung transforms the meaning of 'one'. In traditional Chinese thinking ‘one’ is a concept that embraces 'all'. According to an ancient Chinese dictionary compiled during the years 100 and 112 A.D., the ‘Shuowen Jiezi’ (Explaining Simple and Analyzing Compound Characters, which analysed the meaning of Chinese characters, in Chapter I it explains “one” this way:

Unity (?): that which starts the Great Beginning of the Way is based upon Unity. It divides Heaven and Earth and forms the ten thousand creations. All things related to "one" have “?” as part of the character.

Thus, the Shuowen Jiezi dictionary notes that the meaning of “all” in the universe (Heaven and Earth / is originally generated by the word 'one'. Then what is the meaning of 'one' ? HUNG Keung attempts to study it from The book of Changes (Dao de Jing) in order to illustrate the meaning of 'one' (?) from the perspective of the Dao – the “way” -- through the comparison of different translated versions. In Chapter 42, HUNG Keung first examined the translation by Stephen Mitchell:

“The Dao gives birth to One. One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three. Three gives birth to all things. All things have their backs to the female and stand facing the male. When male and female combine, all things achieve harmony." (Dao De Jing: Chapter 42)

Stephen Mitchell translates 'Dao' as the key factor that gives birth to 'One', which in turn gives birth to Two and then to Three. Following on that, all things achieve harmony.

HUNG Keung became intrigued with the notion of all things in the universe carrying yin and embracing yang. HUNG Keung’s video exploration questions how to present the relationship between humans and the universe through the integration of Chinese calligraphy and new media. Here, the artist, HUNG Keung, would like to invite the audience to experience a journey of the brush strokes of Chinese characters, which represents how human beings can locate themselves in their universe (Heaven and Earth based on the notions of Dao as explored through new media technology.

by HUNG Keung

 

By innov + media lab, hong kong, with HUNG Keung

Work Description
This software projects comprise of five parts. Navigating Images is to change the detected moving objects to a series of dots which are represented by three difference shapes. Falling and Heavy Angels simulates dropping objects which fall on a moving body. The falling behavior resembles the waterfall in which the dots, falls continuously without a gap between the dots. Time Liquid is a real-time video capture and output system and aims to explore the interaction between physical space and virtual space in a 4D world. Space Liquid mimics a visual effect which is something behind a curtain touching the curtain and creating a bumping effect on the curtain, or reverse the meaning of finding an invisible man! Insect Project projects a situation that the body is virtually covered by different flying objects (insect), which would be able to chase the moving bodies by the motion detection system.

Artist's Statement
This interactive work is part of my series of software development during these two years with my research team, innov+media lab. The approach is to wrap applied research around specific new media project. Our objective is to produce and communicate new knowledge via media art, interactive design, information architecture, software developing, research paper and exhibition.

by HUNG Keung