‌Bamboo Echo Chamber

The work traces the history of Hong Kong’s bamboo industry while exploring how human warmth can be preserved in an era of rapid technological change. It draws on the traditional Chinese concept of “heavenly circle and earthly square” (天圓地方), blending algorithmic representation—the “heavenly circle”—with research-based documentation—the “earthly square”—through a participatory, hand-driven rotation. The square represents geography and culture. Exposed mechanical axles, inlaid with texts and records, form a “local chronicle”. The bamboo, the repository of the land’s memory, embodies the region’s heritage as material, tool, and symbol.

The circle evokes cosmic movement, where misting devices generate drifting clouds, a metaphor for Hong Kong’s evolving urban landscape. As viewers manually rotate the bamboo axle, the mist activates, revealing 0101 codes that merge past and future. This interactive act reflects the cyclical wisdom of the I Ching, inviting participants to contemplate the interconnectedness of history, technology, and human experience.