London-based Chinese artist seeks economic, cultural values through art creations

Photo of a bed from Family Archive (2024) that is inspiring her pursuit in sketching an imaginative blueprint for the integration of art, economy and culture. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In her Last Words of The Dust series, Kong focuses on the demolition and renovation of the Beautiful River street and the "Wu" ancestral house in Ningbo. She uses materials such as plaster, water-based paint, leftover fabric and paper to critically examine the cultural erosion and near-loss of craftsmanship in architectural heritage.

This is not only a call for the preservation of local architectural heritage, but also an artistic sample for exploring the cultural-economic models in contemporary urban renewal.

Kong's works are drawn to history, archaeology, relics, and the narratives that shape her story, disrupting linear narrative structures in a unique way and blurring the boundaries between the past and present.

"This mode of artistic creation not only enriches the forms and meanings of artistic expression, but also provides new sources of creativity and business models for the development of the cultural and creative industry," Kong concludes.

Please contact the writer at yinmingyue@chinadaily.com.cn