Even if what we seek remains elusive, can the act of seeking itself hold profound meaning?
As an individual in existence, Jiayang Huang is undergoing a long journey of search. If his earlier works in the United States were outward explorations through the photographic history and internet cultural memes, then this exhibition can be seen as a reflection of his recent two-year shift in focus towards the internal and the past.
The “Dream” in the exhibition title refers not only to the entanglement and struggle between possibility and inevitability experienced by the characters in the works, but also to the object and method of the artist’s inward exploration during the creative process. Employing psychoanalysis as both a tool and a frame of reference, Jiayang delves into themes of selfhood, growth, and family dynamics. The works offer no straightforward interpretations; instead, through an interplay between poetics and games, we experience his journey, bearing witness to the confusion, fantasies, conflicts, and resolutions therein.
The Dream within Huang Long Cave reveals familial narratives spanning two generations - the artist's and his father's, and On the Path of the Gem Mount takes us on a seemingly endless trek blending reality and virtuality, where we experience the stretched and extended psychological time. Meanwhile, The Puzzle of Aechmea Fasciata, a video work made two years ago, can be seen as a turning point bridging geographical and temporal distances, offering a glimpse into the motivations behind Jiayang's act of pursuit.
This exhibition does not hastily offer a conclusive answer regarding the outcome of the search. Whether or not we successfully play through the game work in the exhibition, we may discover a similar quest deep within our own consciousness, and find solace in this shared human experience. After all, delving into the depths of one's inner self usually demands courage greater than any outward journey.
---- Rui Hu