About three years ago, I embarked on a quest that felt more like an ancient ritual than a mere dental migration. I returned to my hometown to part ways with my first wisdom tooth, a mysterious little fellow that had decided to be more annoying than wise. It was like that elusive friend who hints at profound secrets but never quite spills the beans. As the dentist yanked it from my jaw, I saw an endless black hole lurking within, like the cosmic center of a bagel.
The startling shape of that tooth left me in a cold sweat, like a detective on the brink of uncovering a hidden treasure. That unassuming 'sai3 nap1 je5 (small thing in Cantonese)' tucked away in the corner of my mouth had concealed a conundrum of unparalleled proportions. With a mix of intrigue and audacity, I took this peculiar puzzle piece back to Europe, seeking a suitable enigma-friendly resting place.
Beneath the shadow of a grand chestnut tree, standing sentinel on the highest hill in ancient Ghent, I found the perfect setting for this enigmatic traveler. The Platanus (acerifolia), with its roots in the annals of time, lorded over a circular, solitary lawn, unchallenged by any towering structures. Its bark told tales etched by the hand of time, while its towering trunk harbored ancient secrets as if it had silently guarded mystical knowledge for centuries.
Over the years, I engaged in a daily ritual of circumnavigating this arboreal oracle, as if it held the key to unlocking arcane mysteries. An uncanny connection seemed to link me to this arboreal sage. Hence, I buried my inscrutable wisdom tooth beneath its roots, a symbolic offering to the enigma that bound us.
Recently, I've said my goodbyes to the second wisdom tooth, the counterpart to the first. It had grown with a sense of purpose known only to it, like a secret agent on a covert mission. Without its concealed companion below, it extended itself into an enigma beyond recognition. This second wisdom tooth has become a part of me, and together, they've forged a pair of polar opposites, linked by a connection that seems to transcend time and space. One of them now points resolutely to the "north" sea, as if insisting that it harbors some answers.
About this project, I showed some paintings and a video installation.
