ELIXIR OF LIFE

This project centers on the Boshan Lu, an incense burner and symbolic artifact used by the ruling elite to construct an idealized vision of governance. By dissecting its structure and integrating architectural blueprint lines, the work explores the dynamic evolution of natural governance ideology in Chinese society as it transitions from explicit to implicit forms.

As a sculptural embodiment of natural governance ideology, the Boshan Lu encapsulates the philosophy of “harmony between heaven and humanity” while employing its mountain-shaped motifs to craft a visual narrative imposed by the upper class upon the lower class. However, nature is inherently unstable, with its unpredictability often manifesting through natural disasters that disrupt social order and, at times, precipitate political change. With the advent of modern technology, the direct impact of natural disasters on individuals has been increasingly mitigated by infrastructure such as dams and bridges, distancing the instability of nature from everyday life. This process has further consolidated political power, rendering the ideology of natural governance more concealed and stable over time.