Originating from Yiyao Tang’s fieldwork in two demolition areas of Wenzhou, sheltering, lingering draws from both an industrial factory district and Yutou Village––a settlement for migrant workers. Adopting an archaeological perspective, the artist collected and photographed everyday items left behind by workers in industrial ruins, including toothpaste, playing cards, stuffed toys, cigarette cases, worn-out shoes, and fragments of construction materials. These images were transferred onto bent metal sheets, evoking a sense of enclosure, while symbolizing the potential for shelter. Through gestures of “tracing” and “erasure,” the artist examines the fragile sense of security experienced by migrant laborers within precarious social networks. These remnants serve as material echoes of the transient order they strive to maintain in their temporary dwellings.
Detail pictures:
