Florence Lanxuan Liu
Shanghai, China
florenceliu.com
IG:  @uilecnerolf

Cured & Sealed
2024
Fine art printing on Mulberry paper, tung oil, cotton thread, and book board
8.5″ x 11.2″ x 1”

Artist Statement

In January of 2024, on the cusp of Chinese New Year, I found myself drawn back to Anchang Water Town – a place steeped in history with an odd combination of commercialized shops, tourists, and a living community. Nestled within this unique town lies a captivating annual event: the meat-curing season. With a stable amount of local soy sauce produced as one of Anchang’s specialties, cured meat are more so a by-product but attracts more attention because of its unique interactions with the architecture and the people. The distinctive aroma of soy sauce and cured meat permeates the air. As I navigated the narrow alleyways, trying to avoid the hanging meat, I was struck by the ingenuity of the townspeople in utilizing their surroundings for this yearly ritual. Through the act of ‘晒(shai)’ – to hang, to exhibit, to expose – I witnessed a community coming together to create a vibrant and temporary installation. Inspired by this display, I have endeavored to capture and share the essence of this tradition in the form of a book. By documenting and reproducing the art of hanging, my hope is to preserve and continue the tradition of ‘晒(shai)’.