Eternal Spring
2022
Full HD Video, 15”35
It was a story starting in Luxembourg, growing in Shanghai, and ended again in Luxembourg. With the post-master research program “École Offshore”, Chia had an opportunity to carry out a residency program in Shanghai for 3 months and later present the result of her creation in Luxembourg.
During her first visit to Luxembourg, she received a “péckvillchen” as a gift, a Luxembourgish ceramic whistle in the shape of a small bird. This whistle gives a cuckoo sound, and children play it to celebrate Easter Monday. In Chinese culture, the cuckoo bird is also a symbol of spring, a reminder of spring planting and a rhythmic lifestyle with nature. This ceramic bird from Luxembourg therefore traveled with Chia to Shanghai and discover the city together. To their surprise, they found a huge old neighborhood in the ancient fortified city of Shanghai that was about to be demolished, in order to make space for a modernization project. The old city center sealed in concrete and the skyscrapers in the background make a stronger contrast than ever, provoking the question of a general human future. All cities go through a modernization process, either Shanghai or Luxembourg or elsewhere. What do we remove? What do we keep? What is the future life projected and portrayed by today’s city dwellers? What is the connection between old and new, past and future, human and nature? Join the péckvillchen and discover the city of Shanghai through the eyes of this little ceramic bird.