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Twelve (十二生笑)


Twelve animals cross a river and the first to arrive wins a year. 

That story has lasted for centuries. It has guided people on who they are, how they should live, and even who they should marry. Few remember why it was a race, or what the point of it was. It just exists...



This series imagines the twelve stopping mid-race. They're just sitting. Not trying to get anywhere, not hoping for anything. They're looking away from the finish line, that imaginary future. Maybe they're looking at the viewer, or maybe nothing at all. They no longer offer prophecies or advice. They're beautifully useless now, or just resting, or waiting for us to join them. Who knows.....

We're told life is a race, a marathon, a relay, or whatever else people invent to give it purpose. Maybe it's more like a hike in the woods. Sometimes you run, sometimes you just sit and wonder whether you needed to run in the first place.

Rat


Ox


Tiger


Rabbit


Dragon


Snake


Horse


Goat


Monkey


Rooster


Dog


Pig


ARTWORK DETAILS

Calligraphy ink on archival paper.
Framed in a thick teak frame.
One piece only. Available online here.


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