Exotic Flowers and Rare Herbs 2005
Cang Xin
苍鑫
Production date
2007
Object Detail
Media
wood
Measurements
169 x 103 x 102 cm
Notes
Conceptual artist Cang Xin works with a team of assistants whose labour brings his visions to reality. Carved from soft jelutong timber, these surreal sculptures depict plants growing from the bodies of animals, creating new hybrid life forms. Cang Xin’s mother was a Shaman, and he has always been deeply interested in the animist aspects of shamanic ritual and belief systems. Flowers and herbs represent the ‘Tree of Life and Knowledge’ or ‘World Tree’, that Shamans believe sustains the Universe. The combinations of plants, animals – and a human baby – represent the transmigration of souls. Every living thing must go into the ground to be reborn – much like the seed of a plant.
Accession number
2008.016