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18. Celine Cheung

WINNER - Rookwood Sculptures Award

Judges Tian Zhang & Hannah Donnelly said, “We were particularly taken with Celine Cheung’s contemplative work, 忘川 (River of Oblivion), and her considered reflections on ritual, family and culture. The location of the work inside the restored Grave Diggers Hut provided a quiet moment to observe Cheung’s 99 fluid sigils – based on Buddhist auspicious symbols – floating along white chiffon, like souls passing through to the afterlife in an underworld river.”

忘川 (River of Oblivion), 2022

thread, EVA glue, organza chiffon

 

 

In Chinese numerology, 99 signifies eternity. When my grandfather became terminally ill, my family sought solace in studying Buddhist beliefs. This installation features 99 intricate sigils floating along white mesh, imitating souls passing through to the afterlife in an underworld river. The fluid symbols are distorted renditions of the 8 auspicious signs in Buddhism morphed with other symbols in my personal lexicon. This work chronicles learning and reconnecting with spirituality, as death can both divide and bring people together. This work was created collaboratively with my father.

Celine Cheung thanks Parramatta Artists’ Studios Open Residency for their support in developing this project.

About the Artist

 

Celine Cheung has Hong Kong-Chinese and Australian ancestory, she lives on Dharug Land in western Sydney, NSW.

@celinc_c

www.celinecheung.com

Photo credit: Jacquie Mannings at Parramatta Artists' Studios Rydalmere.

 

 

Transcription

Hi, I’m Celine Cheung, the artist behind the sculpture 忘川, The River of Oblivion.

This installation is made of 99 symbols, drawn using a translucent gel-like material and embroidered on sheer organza chiffon. The symbols are inspired by the 8 auspicious signs in Buddhism. Since I rendered them in a fluid style, they go on to morph into abstract shapes that look like an illegible script on Chinese talismans.

In Chinese numerology, the number 99 signifies eternity — more specifically an eternity with a loved one. When my grandfather became terminally ill, my family sought solace in studying Buddhist beliefs. This installation features 99 sigils floating along white mesh, imitating souls passing through to the afterlife in an underworld river.

The sculpture cascades down from the ceiling of the Gravediggers Hut at Rookwood cemetery, draping over the sand-covered floor. The Gravediggers Hut was a refurbished structure that housed the gravediggers of Rookwood cemetery for generations. In real life as well as mythology, we have helpers and mediums to bridge the gulf between life and death — to give the departed a dignified and ritualistic send off.

This work chronicles my family’s journey of learning and re-connecting with spirituality, as death can both divide and bring people together.

The work was created collaboratively with my father, Ngan Kwan Cheung (James Cheung). It was conceptualised from my research during Parramatta Artists’ Studio’s open residency.