“You Welded the Ornament of the Times” was exhibited at the CAFA Art Museum in Beijing. The work critically examines the social and economic transformations brought on by Beijing’s rapid modernization, particularly the eradication of traditional professions. The centerpiece of the exhibition was the live dismantling of a traditional three-wheeled cycle rickshaw by a local technician who had lost his job due to the city’s ban on these vehicles. This act symbolized the displacement of workers and the destruction of a once-common mode of livelihood in favor of modern urban planning.
The project drew attention to the significant impact of urbanization and technological advancements on individuals who relied on these traditional means of transportation. The rickshaw, once a symbol of old Beijing, became a poignant metaphor for the erosion of cultural heritage and the loss of individual livelihoods in the face of progress.
The movement of the local worker dismantling the rickshaw in the exhibition space was meticulously monitored, analyzed, and translated into ink paintings produced in real-time by robotic spray printers within the gallery. This integration of human action with machine-driven art production highlighted the intersection of tradition and technology, further emphasizing the theme of transformation and loss. The direct critique embedded in the artwork led to the exhibition being shut down by the Chinese government shortly after its opening, underscoring the sensitivity of such social issues in the context of China’s rapid development.