Yingxi Sabrina Ji

"Treasure" Chest—the coffin carries more than bodies

Digital

1920px X 1080px

2021

The Roman sarcophagus (or stone coffin) is an example of funerary art that dates back two thousand years. The word sarcophagus emerged from Greek roots that roughly translates to the compound phrase, “flesh eating.” A number of examples of ancient Roman sarcophagi now reside in the permanent collection of the RISD Museum. I’ve been puzzled over the public’s lack of physical access to these objects: how can people understand the actual value and embodied meaning of these stone vessels when the public is prevented from touching them—and even from standing too close to their display? The public’s access is channeled instead through an interpretive label, or audio guide, provided by the museum. I sense people lose interest quickly and quickly leave the artwork behind. I suspect, however, that there may be others like me who are curious to know what’s inside these closed containers. In Treasure Chest, I dissect a sarcophagus from its surface inward, seeking to expose its heart and share it with others. My goal is to offer a deeper, decidedly tactile experience that exposes the interiority of these ancient funerary objects and reframes public engagement with their form and purpose.

Center for Primal Matter—a speaker series

Website

2021

The Center for Primal Matter promotes active explorations of material culture, and focuses on promoting kinship with chemical elements. Various characters come to life in this serious yet playful interpretation. Whether or not you have an affinity for chemistry, you likely studied the subject in school. But what happens if the periodic table is re-examined? Can it become a magical tableau? The 118 elements sit quietly on the table—and they become simultaneously mysterious and charming with the realization that everything, including human bodies, is made of them. Everything we touch, eat, and use comes from the 118 chemical elements found in the periodic table, yet we rarely stop to consider and appreciate their existence. The Center for Primal Matter creates an environment where these elements expand beyond their abstracted two-dimensional representation in an array. The project gives elements a voice; I asked each element to be a collaborator, to represent themselves in a three-dimensional way. As a curator, I invited them to the stage as guest speakers for a limited series of broadcasts—Primal Matters; I also organized a few panel discussions to give opportunities to hear their voices. Visit Center for Primal Matter at https://primalmattercenter.cargo.site/

Industrypark.org—Travel to an Abandoned Site

Website

2020

The Washington Park neighborhood that Nick and I chose to explore is largely taken up by the port of Providence (ProvPort). The port, which is owned by the City of Providence, houses multinational corporations and serves both international and domestic cargo needs. The Port deals primarily in heavy machinery, building materials, infrastructure, and fuel, and is part of a larger trade network that exports and imports cargo. Washington Park is not a place where many people would have the interest or opportunity to explore further. The neighborhood, which includes both areas of residential and industrial development, seems as if it’s been hidden in plain sight by city planners—yet it still has value. Despite its blight and neglect, the area has potential as well as history. However, many of the spaces are wasted, an outcome caused byof generations of human pollution and misuse of the local environment. I envisioned a very special tour guide to spotlight this area’s enduring value: a light ball that would draw the attention and focus of visitors. By literally “shining a light” on problem areas in Washington Park—serving as a location marker for trash one moment, then transforming into a chemical air pollutant as an example of pervasive local issues—the light ball urges humans to face the consequences of ignorance and disregard. View the full project at industrypark.org

From Tablet to Tablet—The long scroll

Website

2020

In this project, I explore the use of cuneiform writing by Sumerians for recordkeeping, tracking temple activities, business, and trade as early as 3200 B.C. Although few public libraries in the United States hold examples of cuneiform, considered the earliest writing system, I was able to view pieces owned by the Providence Public Library. Jordan Goffin, Head Curator of Special Collections, shared a series of tablets, and I responded to one that appears to document Sumerian wages. As I considered the ancient tablet, I immediately thought of modern technology and tools: the tablet devices in use today, which often have the same recordkeeping function as their much older ancestral forms. Tablet to Tablet creates a visual lineage between the clay tablets of Sumeria and the metal, glass, and plastic tablets of today. I hope to highlight continuities with the past through the work while also opening up possible visions of future hybrid forms. https://welcometothefuture.cargo.site/