Junfeng Zhang

Artist Statement

This project takes Taoist incantation as an entry point. “incantation” is one of the main means used by Chinese Taoism to preach and practice. Generally speaking, it refers to a mysterious image drawn with a combination of dots, lines and characters. People in Taoism claim that it has many functions such as driving ghosts, curing diseases and eliminating disasters. Combining Taoist incantation with modern science and pharmacology to create contemporary incantation. Through these personalized rituals to express people’s helplessness, anxiety and struggle in the face of disease.

In 2020, the coronavirus epidemic caused a worldwide threat, many people are not immune from this disaster. Through the research of modern science, I visualized the shape of the virus and drew it on the incantations. So the characters and figures on the new incantation are related to killing the viruses. I also made some tiny incantations and put them in capsules to form a special medicine. And people need to wear masks to go out during the epidemic, therefore, some incantations were directly painted on the mask, and even directly pasted on them.

Junfeng Zhang - Incantation capsuleIncantation capsule
Junfeng Zhang - Incantation maskIncantation mask
Junfeng Zhang - RitualsRituals
Junfeng Zhang - Burn incantaionsBurn incantaions
Junfeng Zhang - Contemporary incantationContemporary incantation

Combining Taoist incantation with modern science and pharmacology to create contemporary incantation. Through these personalized rituals to express people's helplessness, anxiety and struggle in the face of disease.
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