Hanta Does a Handstand

He Gong, Hanta Does a Handstand,

Multi-media Painting Installation,

Dimensions: 400 cm x 300 cm, 202

Piece Description

Text: Dr. Sophia Kidd

In this piece, He Gong explores how the books we have read contribute to the creation of our inner affective space. Hanta is a character from the Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal’s novel Too Loud a Solitude.

Hanta worked in the disposal of discarded books for a period of 35 years, transformed from a knowledge producer to a destroyer of knowledge. What a cruel punishment it is for an intellectual to endure such humiliation.

He read as much as possible, cramming information into his mind before the books were pulverized. He secretly saved the best books, creating his own private library collection. However, these efforts were so humble, akin to the depiction in the book of those mice living on gnawed-off paper for sustenance. In the end, just like the books, they all met their demise in the colossal shredder. Hrabal’s metaphor in the book is clear: power equals violence.

Clearly, He Gong is in this instance not just creating visual illustrations after reading. What he contemplates is how, in countries with different cultural contexts, the adoption of similar societal models results in comparable social consequences. Power leads to the reversal of order, creating a state of affairs that is contrary to common sense and logic.

Longitudinally, He Gong has experienced various changes in China spanning over half a century. Time and context have established for him a clear logical thread. Horizontally, his international scope of existence and cross-cultural experiences have provided him with a sensitive awareness of comparisons. Therefore, I believe that the conceptual content behind He Gong’s visual works extends beyond the images and should not be overlooked.

The installation artwork Hanta Does a Handstand draws its main image from a 1942 news photograph depicting the calm and focused demeanor of readers amidst the ruins of a library in London after being bombed by the Nazi air force. This symbolizes the indomitable spirit in the face of destruction. On the transparent mesh in the foreground, there is a depiction of boots trampling over books, but they are inverted, conveying a symbolic and self-evident meaning.

Hanta Does a Handstand

He Gong, Multi-media Painting Installation,

Dimensions: 400 cm x 300 cm, 2023.

Hanta Does a Handstand

He Gong, Multi-media Painting Installation,

Dimensions: 400 cm x 300 cm, 2023.

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