The Old People’s Restaurant and the Sea

This exhibition presents the unique and micro-historical narratives of the Pearl River Delta region through the mixed-media works of six artists. After thoroughly exploring the exhibition, viewers may gain an understanding of the spatial imagination held by inland mountain dwellers towards the coastal areas. They may also become aware of the “island-hopping” survival strategies employed by the residents of the coastal islands; they may delve into the stories of quarrying, transportation, and landfilling of stones in this maritime region; they may also be reminded of the historical memories of dispersal and escape within the region; and they may experience the emotional roller coaster of familial histories through the perspective of an individual growing up in the area.

Preface

In a place closest to the sea, young people only have memories of bridges, and the memories of ships have been lost.

For some, islands are like the holes in a room, gnawed and occupied by mice—archipelagos are the true rear areas for humans, whereas mainlands may not be.

The fractured strata, visible only to a few, will eventually be thrown into the ocean and become the infrastructure sinking to the seabed. Most people see ships floating on the sea surface, unaware of the operations occurring beneath. In their spare time, these individuals gossip about the “fleeing” stories that have occurred across different eras in this maritime zone.

In fact, the confinement of the globalization era has transformed anyone’s escape into a self-imposed exile to the next location. They die and come alive again amidst splendid fireworks, living and dying in an endless cycle…

For rural residents who migrate to coastal cities for work, this place is “farthest from the sun”. The living spaces here are dense and cramped, and they must learn to navigate through them with flexibility. Nonetheless, most of the time, they find themselves on the verge of getting lost…