朔望 Begin at the End
2024
8 x 8 x 3.25 inch
etching on surface gampi paper; screenprinting on Japanese star paper, resin clay, wrapped by Laval book cloth
Edition size: 12 regular, 2 special
The phases of the moon complete a cycle, meeting in the new moon at the beginning and the end. Through the simple observation of celestial phenomena, time appears to stand still, with the thirty nights passing, leaving only fleeting traces. Sometimes we look at the calendar and lament that there are still more than twenty days left in the month; other times we glance at it and realize the days have flown by. What remains in the fleeting moments we cannot grasp? I often ponder this in my brightly lit room at 4 a.m. Watching the sea at 4 a.m. is wonderful; it is as confused as I am but inevitably follows the moon's descent and the tide's retreat.Perhaps all that remains between the new and full moon is a small pool of water in a dried shell. Is it the seawater that swallowed the moon that night? It is so shallow and transient, evaporating at noon when the moon is invisible. "But it existed, I saw it," you stubbornly think, and then lock these thoughts in a black velvet drawer labeled "Dream Talk."
"Begin at the End" is a peculiar artist's book, a specimen dedicated to the nocturnal tribe. Some possess extraordinary self-discipline, others live by a strict routine, and some are active at the end of the night. Did they waste their time? I guess not. I guess that, accompanied by others' light dreams, they must have collected many time-limited beautiful trifles—useless, but truly beautiful.
月相走过一轮，在最初与最后的朔夜相遇。 以浅显的天象看时间仿佛静止，30日夜切实走过只留下转瞬即逝的足迹。有时我们看日历，感叹某月还余二十几日太漫长；有时我们看日历，恍惚发现日期瞬息已是千里之外。
无法抓住的隙中驹到底留下了什么？我时常在凌晨4点灯火通明的房间里想着。凌晨4点看海是极好的，它跟我一样茫然但为着必然的月落退潮。
朔望之间留下的也许只是风干贝壳里的一滩水，它是那夜吞噬了月亮的海水吗？它那么浅，那么短暂，在看不见月影的正午直接蒸发。“但它存在过，我看见了“，你固执地想着，然后把它们关进名为“梦话”的黑丝绒抽屉里。
“朔望“是一本奇怪的艺术家书，是献给日夜颠倒族群的标本。有的人自制力非凡，有的人生活规律，有的人活跃在凌晨的末尾，他们虚度了光阴吗？我猜不是，我猜伴着他人的浅梦，他们一定拥有了很多限时供应的美丽废物，无用，但实在美丽。