Forgiveness in the Cave (Solo Display)

Artist: Sze Mok Ham
Date: 7 – 18 April 2025
Venue: New Asia College Ch’ien Mu Library
Statement:
Human migration has never ceased from ancient times to the present. Houses seem to physically fulfill humanity’s psychological need for safety and shelter. However, from caves and thatched huts to tiled houses and modern apartments, does static space serve as a sanctuary for the soul, providing a sense of belonging, or does it render the spirit restless and without a place to settle? The term “原宥” means forgiveness, tolerance, and pardon. The character “宥” originates from the radical “宀”, which symbolizes a house, and its oracle bone script form resembles a dwelling, possibly an early representation of a cave. The term is taken from the opening of Wang Shuo’s Ferocious Animals: “I envy those who come from the countryside. In their memories, there is always a nostalgic hometown. Even if that hometown is actually a desolate and impoverished place devoid of poetry, as long as they so desire, they can indulge in the fantasy that something they have lost is still securely stored in that unknown homeland, thereby granting themselves self-forgiveness and solace.” The exhibition extracts familial memories from ancestral homes in the countryside, intertwining them with personal recollections and imagination. Through artistic creation, it seeks to rediscover one’s place within the forgotten passage of time, attempting to depict the raw and intrinsic emotions embedded within, and to express the aspect of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Poster:

Art Work:

More photos are available in New Asia College Library Exhibition Archive.