《镜子》 Mirror 2017.11.9
About the artist
Liu Ke was born in 1977 in Chengdu, Sichuan. Started learing art, photography since young. Currently lives in Chengdu.
Huang Huang, learned dance from youth. Currently lives in Chengdu.
Exhibitions:
2015: Zongmu Photography Biennial Exhibition, Chengdu, Sichuan; Three Shadows Photography Award in Echigo-Tsumari Art Field, Echigo- Tsumari Triennial 2015, Echigo, Japan.
2013: Dali International Photography Exhibition, Dali, Yunnan; Multi III : Dimensional View - Chengdu Contemporary Photography Exhibition, Chengdu, Sichuan; "And eternity in a portrait ", re -C Art Space, Chengdu, Sichuan; 2012: Dali International Photography Exhibition, Dali, Yunnan.
2011: "TOKYO PHOTO", Tokyo, Japan; Multi II: Dimensional View – Chengdu Contemporary Photography Exhibition, Chengdu, Sichuan; Face of Life - Chinese Contemporary Portrait Exhibition, Epson epSITE Beijing; CHINA FOTO - Special Exhibition on Contemporary Chinese Photography, Zen Foto Gallery, Tokyo, Japan.
2010: Face of Life - Chinese Contemporar y Por trait Exhibition, CAFA Art Museum, Beijing; In the Immediate - Chengdu Contemporary Photographer Exhibition, Chengdu International Photography Center, Chengdu, Sichuan; 175M175 - The 3rd Contemporary Art Exhibtion Series on SanXia, re-C Art Space, Chengdu, Sichuan; Caochangdi Photo Spring, Three Shadows Photogranphy Art Centre, Beijing; Art Fair Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Still Lake – Liu Ke Solo Exhibition, Zen Foto Gallery, Tokyo, Japan.
2009: Lianzhou Photo Festival, Lianzhou, Guangdong; Multi: Dimensional View – Chengdu Contemporary Photography Exhibition, Chengdu, Sichuan; Multiple Visions Exhibition, Epson epSITE, Beijing; Unique Vision – Photogranphic Exhibition of Chengdu Young Photogranphers, Chengdu, Sichuan; Points of Impact – China through the Eyes of Young Photographers, Three Shadows Photogranphy Art Centre, Beijing.
2008: LOVE3 Re- start, 733 Art Factory, Chengdu, Sichuan.
2007: Vanity Fair of Art Invitation Exhibition, Qisheng Art Centre, Chengdu, Sichuan; 2007: Cross Sunshine Art Exhibition, Chengdu, Sichuan.
2006: Out of the Circle Photo Exhibition, Chengdu Yafeng Contemporary Art Gallery, Chengdu, Sichuan.
2005: Jiang Hu - Experimental Art Exhibition,Lijiang Studio, Lijiang, Yunnan.
Award: 2010: Paul Huf Award nominated, Netherlands.
About the work
Close the Mirror, Into the Mirror
Mirror, the farther you are away,
The longer the distance between you and yourself.
Only if you walk towards it, get closer, much closer
Step into it,
And become the mirror…
The light disappears when you’re in the front of the mirror, leaving everything in darkness…You fall into emptiness and your body is out of control. Fear assaults you, followed by danger, despair, frustration and loneliness, putting you on the verge of the abyss…until you have the sight of the mirror again under the long-lasting glimmer.
This is a dream created by ourselves without any context. We may feel cruel and cold in it but don’t need to cuddle up to each other for warmth as we are the fire itself. In the dream, in the mirror under the light or darkness, life is growing, dreaming and suffering. There is no emotional turmoil for the bygones, no fear of the unknown, no restraint of ration and no boring logic. Time has fragmented here, countless pieces scattered into the present, present, present... at our fingertips. We burn wildly before this clean mirror, emerging and releasing and connecting constantly and indulging in the loneliness linked up to the universe.
Fifteen years ago, we met and said that we were the mirror of each other. Since then this mirror has lain in our hearts. As time goes by, it might become a bit fuzzy, and shine not as bright as before. But when we get close again, the only remaining glimmer is eternal... It always exists there... This mirror enables us to stay in the present and look into the future in the past.
We have started taking a photo of each other every day since 2017, just like watching ourselves naked in the mirror every day. The danger of exposure led to the power of mysterious attraction. In front of the mirror we cried, laughed, roared, meditated, unleashing all the enthusiasm and turning it into ashes. We grew as much as we could and lived full of every day as the last day we had, brilliant days. We were still pure, simple and dangerous. Two years, 730 days, 1460 irrelevant photos, which will remain in our lives forever.
This may be just a dream from which I don't want to wake up. It is an adventure of two children. We mutter, maybe not so clear clear. Maybe the tone is weird, but we are addicted to it, so obsessed with the adventure and the unique beauty as well. We enjoy indulging in it and the unknown journey has just begun.
In front of the mirror, we have a favorite poem engraved on our arms.
Day destroys the night,
Night divides the day.
Tried to run, tried to hide
Break on through to the other side…