Mapping a blazing talent
On his finished "maps", Xiang attempts to draw the latitude and longitude lines with sparks, destroying and disconnecting the map, and providing a fragile sense of beauty at the same time.
Xiang claims that the burning process did not initially come to his mind, but the flammability of paper made him consider fire as its antithesis. He wanted to see paper and fire fighting against each other and leaving unique traces.
Xiang chose rice paper, or xuanzhi in Chinese, and handmade paper as his canvas.
Papermaking, as one of the four greatest inventions by ancient Chinese people, marked the development of civilization.
"The trajectory of our existence is now like straight lines that rarely intersect, and most of us are more concerned with personal business than looking after each other. It made me wonder if paper and fire, the two substances that repel, could coexist through artistic expression," he says.
