Gordian Knots

This particular project

utilized all of Manhattan

as exhibition area,

including UN, Communist

Chinese Embassy, Taipei

Cultural Center, MoMa,

Rockefeller Center, etc.

With a projector on a

truck, I projected the

image of a Christmas tree

decorated with flags of

various countries -

including that of an

independent Taiwan -

unto the various

buildings. These images

were see by

approximately more than

500,000 people.

 

In Gordian Knots Chin

Chih attempts to express

the twisted relationships

between nation states

involved in the conflict

between Communist

China and Taiwan fueled

by Taiwan's desire for

independence. For this

piece, he tied over 2300

flags into knots using an

ancient Asian technique.

Christmas tree lights are

intertwined in the flags

and the Gordian Knot has

assumed the shape of a

Christmas Tree. This

piece functions both as a

Christmas decorations

and also a challenge to

the strong emotions

surrounding flags. It is a

reflection of human

relations, inevitably

marked by mutual

dependence and conflict.

 

It is customary to fly the

national flag outside the

buildings of consular

offices. That is not the

case at the Taipei

Cultural Center. Only

upon entering, can one

see the flag raised high in

the lobby. There, a white

sun superimposed on a

big blue sky and the red

earth (the design of the

ROC flag) hangs from the

ceiling. Chin Chih Yang's

attempt to comment on

this situation was deemed

too controversial to be

displayed at the Taipei

Cultural Center

 

Thus the exhibition

"Beyond Measure" itself

functions as a challenge

to cherished American

freedoms - both the

freedom of speech and

the freedom of religion.

This left Chin Chih with

the only alternative

available, namely to

project the image on the

outside of this and other

buildings from a truck.

Done