xiaodi zhus criticality installation explores our memories of the physical world

designboom_ZXD architects has released xiaodi zhu’s most recent artwork entitled ‘criticality’, which is exhibiting in the ‘unknown city: china contemporary architects and installation art exhibition’ in pingshan art museum, shenzhen. the piece sees countless random objects emblazoned on a metal structure as the concept explores the idea of new things meaning death of the old.


xiaodi zhu looks in particular at cities, and proposes that the creation of a new cityscape often begins by covering the old. ‘criticality’ also examines the point in which a new city and its old counterpart balance each other out. the artwork seeks to express this urban transition process in a concrete manner, highlighting the entangling chaos through the juxtaposition of objects.

the installation is formed from two boxes. the external wire mesh frame is decorated with various, seemingly random, objects, representing the memories which we hold of the physical world and how they overlap as time passes. from this exterior, visitors can enter into the inner box where they are immersed in a room clad of mirrors, creating boundless reflections of themselves in the space. in addition to the idea of memory and transition, the work also aims to highlight the concept of an unknown and uncertain future.