MAX CHENG
MIXED MEDIA
A Story of Time Through Scents
讓香味刻劃時間
第一部分
Part One
Nature Ingredients, Glass Bottle, Wood
Size Variable
“𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘤𝘺𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵, 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.”
The installation, 𝘈 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘚𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, conjures the endless cyclical changes of environments, with anecdotes from around the world across time.
The first part of the artwork is titled “Waves”, constructed from wooden shelves resembling the coastline. Ten types of fragrant materials, such as patchouli, pine, and cedar, are arranged in undulating rows that mimic the shoreline, facing away from the Victoria Harbour, portraying the once-bustling “Fragrant” Harbour of the past.
A Story of Time Through Scents
讓香味刻劃時間
第二部分
Part Two
Perfume, Metal, Wood
Size Variable
The second part of the artwork is a scent diffusion device. Wood diffusers shaped like waves are accompanied by the scents of dawn, day and dusk. The tidal ebb and flow narrate an ocean’s story over a day, while signifying the passage of time and shifts of emotion.
Visitors can interact with the device to experience the fragrances, capturing a moment of scent on fragrance paper to take home and savor.
A Story of Time Through Scents
讓香味刻劃時間
第三部分
Part Three
Nature Ingredients, Wood
Size Variable
The third part of the artwork consists of three sets of cabinets. These cabinets house over 50 commonly used fragrant herbs and spices, classic and current, including ambergris borrowed from the Shanghai Museum.
Through an interactive approach, visitors can “search for scents” to learn about different materials and the stories behind them, bringing these stories alive through overlapped timelines.
Last - Kai Tak Edition
Incense Stick, Computer Chips
Size Variable
Last
Incense Stick, Computer Chips
Size Variable
A contemporary society constructed from eletronic waste and the remnants of burned
incense, the work attempts to explore the solitude and emptiness behind the urban life
coated with advanced technologies, reflecting on the positioning of humanity in this electronic race.