The Reason to be Absolute (Excerpt)

Xiang Jing: All the methods that I used are traditional ones, and this is my way against the current concepts. Many people like to look on modern art with an evolutionism view: this is out-of-date; that is updated; these have never been tried… However, I simply choose the most traditional ways, for example, during some period of time I especially like to use the auto-operation film camera to take pictures, and I would like to use the coarsest technique to express the subtlest emotion. The most important thing is to make my sculpture touching, finding the power of spirit in it, which is the essence of art, not just the technological parts. One of the methods I used to do the coloration now is to use propylene and paint the surface little by little like a painter. Another way is the same as carpenters fixing color on the furniture, and I can tell everyone this method because any normal carpenter knows how to do — but you will not have the same effect as mine.

You Yong: Then why you can make that special luster?
Xiang Jing: Yes, I think it is the same with Chinese musical instruments. Though the same simple instrument and the same tunes, different people plays it in the different way. If you add your personal feelings and emotions into your works, everything will be changed then. Those works are never normal again; you will feel particulars inside and their own glories. This is what I believe in, and what I do. To put your personal influence into your works, and it will have the features of your own.

You Yong: Your Body has a distinctive direction of emotion: innocence, and fear.
Xiang Jing: I think it’s just innocence. I didn’t have the idea of fear when making it. She gives us an innocent facial expression, with no consciousness, and with no meaning at all.

You Yong: Beneath the innocent face is a mature and aged body. Dose it mean that you are so much doubted about your own existence?
Xiang Jing: Everyone can have his own interpretation. Again and again, I want to dismiss one doubt, and this coming problem is about existence and dignity. Since I