M+ Sigg Collection, Hong Kong. By donation, © Yang Xingguang. Photo: M+, Hong Kong.
NARRATOR:
Titled The Way of the Measured, this installation was created by Yang Xinguang in 2007 with river rocks.
In a space four metres long and three metres wide, the work is displayed in two sets—rocks arranged in a square and rocks piled in a circle—on the floor next to each other. You can view the installation from all sides.
The rocks in both sets are light-coloured, in pink, grey, or rust. They have smooth surfaces with natural rock patterns. The square set comprises rocks cut into cuboids and cubes of different sizes: some as long as an adult’s palm, others as short as half an adult’s palm. These blocks are polished on their chipped edges and sharp corners, and are arranged neatly into a square, side by side next to each other without overlapping. Their varying heights evoke a sprawl of buildings in a walled city.
The circular set of rocks varied in size and form. Appeared to be leftover fragments, the rocks pile on each other randomly, forming a small mound. These rocks look rough and irregular, casting a striking contrast with the square set.