This is my lifelong performance.
This work started around 20 years ago, beside The Seine, due to my admiration for the river having given birth to a great nation and culture. At that moment, I had the impulse to wash my face in the river. In the process of washing, memories of my past appeared in my mind, while my tears mixed with the waters.From then on, I went to any country, city or field, I will wash my face in the coast, canal, lake or stream , and record the process with pictures and videos.
It brings a sense of uneasiness, pain and exile.The neurotic scrubbing of the face is a metaphor for the restlessness, commotion and inexplicable mental load of inner emotions. It is also the constant hint of “escape” hidden deep in the brain. I’ve always felt driven away by something in my mind. The inner psychology is full of filth and endless anxiety. Naturally, when I wash my face, it would to give me a little physical comfort. By nervously scrubbing my face, it metaphors the restlessness, commotion and inexplicable spiritual quagmire that always exist in the internal emotion. From my hometown to Europe, Africa and back to Asia. Gradually, the ” face washing” has a sense of ritual and sanctity of self baptism over time. the water flowing out of my fingers, it looks like crying. How should I put it? Which I know my life is futile, but I still cling to it.
这是我的终生行为。
作品的原发来自于二十年前在巴黎塞纳河边的一次偶发行为，我对这一条孕育了伟大文明、民族，产生了伟大的自由精神和宏伟艺术的河流油然地崇敬，突然有了要去河里洗一把脸的冲动。在洗的过程中内心涌动，过往经历，滚动叠加。由此百感交集而泪流满面。此后，无论走到哪个国家、城市和野外，无论是具有宗教意味、地缘政治敏感区域、移民偷渡海岸、大运河、神话的湖泊，还是大洋、我用图片和录像纪录下以“洗脸”的方式与当地的水域所产生的关联，并构成了跨越时空的个体和地理的交织。
我一直感到被什么驱赶而终生处于逃亡的状态。内在心理充满了污浊和无尽的焦困，在世界的游历过程中，自然而然带出来“洗脸”这个简单的行为给我稍许的肉体安抚。它像一根隐线牵引我不断在地理上的跨越、时空上串联。个体的体验，延申，反射对它者从历史到社会在形态和文化上的探寻、观察和思考。通过对脸部神经质地搓洗，隐喻内在情感始终存在的不安、骚动和莫名的精神泥潭。从海洋、河流乃至于溪水，家乡的渠河，到欧洲、非洲到亚洲。在每处水域的“洗脸”，久而久之竟有了一种自我受洗的仪式感和神圣性。从图像捂着的脸和指缝里流出的水，上看去竟然像是在哭泣，我知终生徒劳，但依旧执念。
