Gui Zhi (2023 - Ongoing)
For the seven years she took care of me until I attended primary school, I known my grandma as 'Laolao' - Chinese for grandmother. Years later, I found out her real name is Gui Zhi 桂枝 - meaning the ancient Chinese herb 'Ramulus Cinnamomi'
A few years ago she was given an outdated iPhone 4 to keep her in touch with everyone. By chance, I discovered the photos stored in her phone's camera roll, blurry and unframed, there's no way of telling, just by looking at them, if she had taken them on purpose or unconsciously. Nevertheless, they are a glimpse into her daily routine. Within the quarters of her living, she cooks, eats, watch entertainment on TV, in bed, often alone. Something in these photos haunts me and my memories of her. This work explore visual semiotic theories, combining photos Gui Zhi took, and photos of her taken by others throughout 1993 - 1998. The bed, the TV, the small child became a symbol and sign, and in the process of repeating themselves, a consist locus gradually emerges.
