Oology and Others
The collection of eggs and nests as a perhaps confusing (or almost jocular) hobby began in 18th century Britain and has since expanded into a systematic, socially respectable, and lucrative collecting pastime. Although sporadically studied under ornithology, it was more often seen as having an ornamental effect. Around the mid-20th century, wildlife protection laws gradually banned private ownership of oology collections, and many private collections had to be turned over to museums. The large collections indirectly led to unexpected interdisciplinary research thereafter, but they also led to oology gradually falling out of public view and becoming an almost forgotten collecting discipline.
From once-rustic objects to scientific collections, the ambiguity of oology has led to a dispersed discussion of its facets. But beyond all the research practice, beyond the perfect-but-fragile eggs and the ordinary-but-magnificent nests, it is the simple-but-honest motivation of the collector that arouses my interest: a human, primitive desire to collect and possess a beautiful product of nature.
As the field of research related to oology spans a wide range. I try to organize each of Project OOO's presentations in chronological order, each time a certain period. Some works will approach canonical oology research, some are jumping in irregular directions, and some are just imaginary, thus expanding the meaning of what is so-called oology.
The first presentation takes as its starting point 2020-2022, when domestic (human nest) life is the norm. The works in An Eggy Video Meeting, a series of drawings inspired by the video conference, the most common communication method of the past two years, will question whether observing nature can be considered a social awkwardness from a non-human perspective. In the ground-installation Domestic Dominion Degradation, the form of eggs and nests were deconstructed, they are interpreted as a kind of consensus between nature and man-made geometric. The materials themselves–and the reference to a popular dinosaur blockbuster series– allude to the instability of our current age. Last, Uterus Is a Kiln, Egg Is Fired, a texture map created with photogrammetry of one hoopoe figurine, remade into a tempera and a short animation, comparing the similarity between eggs and ceramic with the thread of topography, and digital algorithms with painting using organic materials.
(This project developed during a residency at Delfina Foundation (UK); work stipend offered by Ministry of Culture (TW) and the Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City (TW); exhibition supported by Senate Department for Culture and Europe (DE) and Taishin Bank Foundation for Arts and Culture (TW)
An Eggy Video Meeting
Pencil, color pencil, marker pen, gel pen, acrylic ink, paper
19.75×34.95 cm, 20.6×33.2 cm, 18.2×33cm, 19.7×30.3 cm
2022
During an eggy video meeting, my concentration often wanders to the space behind the participants. The blurry background renders the boundary of proper manners fuzzy. When peeking into a stranger's household through a screen, I feel a bit awkward, but not even sorry.
These video sessions stream from the nests of birds, and without a human host. We don’t know who announced it? What’s the agenda? Or who’s speaking now? The non-human embryo (egg) carries a human name, as many birds share their name with people. Some are originally bird's names but are given to people because of the lovable qualities of the birds. Or some were named after their discoverer, to honor their achievement involuntarily.
A home or a nest represents the small nature of one individual, but our instinct continues to drive us to explore the greater nature external. Occasionally, we collect objects from nature. This is not a thing to brag about, but I see it as a reminder of how unexceptional we are. To explore also means to disrupt. Among all the non-human creatures, a bird's home – the nest and the egg – is remarkably exquisite and has a variety that has enchanted many of us. This is true even though in people's etiquette, one’s living and breeding place should be screened for privacy. The nests and the eggs of birds, still exposed from the discreet nature, have become collectible specimens or images, public in the hands of humans, without the birds being asked.
*****
eggy
/ˈɛɡi/
(UK, slang) Slightly annoyed.
Domestic Dominion Degradation
UV resin, UV lacquer, UV light, carpet
Installation size
2022
Inspired by the circular or curved strokes when drawing an egg. The form of the eggs and nests have been deconstructed and interwoven into a new structure. This makes the whole a fusion of eggs and nests that do not distinguish between the inside and the outside, carrying or being carried. When switching the viewing angles, the contour negative space forms a clutch.
These translucent sculptures are placed on carpets evoking a homey feeling and are cut into geometric shapes drawn from the unfolding of 3D models. The carpet is themed with dinosaurs. In addition to the significance of dinosaurs as the first egg-laying animals, Jurassic World Dominion, a movie originally planned for release in 2021, is one of the many notable projects delayed by the pandemic. The Jurassic series reflects on the uncontrollable catastrophe caused by human manipulation of genetic technology, so much so that the title of the latest episode, Dominion, can be seen as a satire in contrast to the current reality.
The sculptures on the carpet emit a pale blue-violet fluorescence when exposed to UV light, echoing the UV spectrum seen by birds to identify their environment and their eggs. Ultimately, the sculptures, printed with UV-curing resin, are at risk of deterioration and even cracking from prolonged exposure to UV light.
Uterus Is a Kiln, Egg Is Fired
Egg tempera, two channel HD videos
Installation Size
2022
The closed, but hollow, structure of the moulded ceramic figurine is comparable to that of an egg in terms of topography. Could an egg also be interpreted as a piece of ceramic work fired in a bird's uterus?
The works contain three parts, first, a tempera painting reference of the texture map of a hoopoe figurine made by the V.E.B. Porzellanfiguren Lippelsdorf (Wagner & Apel) of the former East Germany. And second, a short animation made with a series of pictures of the same texture map, but the black parts were autofilled. The slight differences between each calculation when autofilling make the streamed images almost fluid-like. Finally, an animation shows the hoopoe figurine assemble and disassemble.