Becoming Myth
2023
PUblication
Becoming Myth is written, designed, and published by Xiao as a materialization of the writing, performance, and research during the two years of studying at a master research program in Geneva, Switzerland. The publication was developed alongside her performance, and research process. It explores a different way of storytelling, mixing scientific research and fictional story, and aiming to mystify our understanding of the process of knowing. The publication exists in various editions with her performance practice and her performance practice also evolves from the writing of this publication. The performance is an enaction of the publication.
Becoming Myth is a story about a floating ghost who carries generations of memories and sensations into a new cosmos. The concept is set in this unknown cosmos that has been conceptualized my research of quantum physics and Chinese Daoist thinking through writing. This writing practice is situated in my experience of a generation growing up in the acceleration developing China. It reflects the dissonance and uncanniness in the ways of knowing. This writing translates the experience into a mythical narration. The fictional story discovers human bodily knowledge and spiritual ways of knowing. The performative body and its sensations are dominant in the story, which communicates the effects and creates new sensations.
This publication is an attempt to make the dissonance between Western scientific knowledge and Eastern culture perceivable. The publication starts with the diagrams and then with the story. Each spread starts with the story on the left-hand side and after flipping the page on the left are notes and personal stories. Serving as the footnotes, the notes take up more and more space. The notes and story are both written as individual pieces and also reflections on each other. This boundary of personal and academic research is blurred and uncertain.
©Henry Rice
©Henry Rice
©Henry Rice
©Henry Rice