TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese artist Chen Liang-jung (陳亮融) presented a performance art piece using beeswax, candlelight, and movement at London's Nunnery Gallery on Friday, exploring themes of transience and the cyclical nature of labor.
Titled “Ebb is to flow as wax is to wane,” the installation was developed during Chen's two-month residency at a US retreat. Featuring a collaboration with dance artist Celine HyunJin Barreau, Chen began by lighting candles, one by one, as Barreau responded with interpretive movement, per CNA.
Gradually, the growing candlelight transformed the darkness into a warm, glowing environment. The performance culminated as the flames slowly faded, marking the end of the 15-minute piece.
At the heart of the installation is a repeating process: drip-shaped candles hang from suspended wicks, burn down to the base, and are then re-formed from the pooled wax. This cycle of burning, collecting, crafting, and repeating mirrors the endless, often unnoticed routines of physical labor.
Chen’s inspiration stems from her own experiences working as a cleaner, where the repetition of daily tasks, such as wiping the same surface repeatedly, left her questioning the value and permanence of her efforts. Each day, the artist would melt beeswax in the morning, drip it to form new candle structures, and light them in the evening, only to watch them disappear into air.
The next day, the cycle would begin again, echoing the feeling of performing work that vanishes without a trace. The installation reflects this tension between physical effort and impermanence.
Barreau said she was pleased to bring movement into the installation, breathing new life into the static medium. Each performance is meant to evoke a different audience response, and for this piece, she focused on exploring the shifting of shadows within the space.
Chen was selected as one of 12 finalists for the East London Art Prize, organized biennially by Bow Arts. Out of over 870 submissions, her work was chosen for its originality and was awarded free exhibition space as part of the honor.
Curator Sandra Lam (林韻兒) highlighted the diversity of the finalists, noting that although all currently live in East London, many come from different backgrounds, including Bangladesh, Brazil, and parts of Africa. The aim of the prize, she said, is to foster greater understanding of East London’s artists and to encourage cross-cultural dialogue.
