Works
CV
Medium: Live performance (in development)
Duration: Approx. 20–40 mins
Introduction：
In On the White Ground – Cleansing, DongDong transforms a pristine white surface into a site of fragile order, disruption, and futile repair. The performance begins with the artist stepping into the white space, wearing specially designed shoe covers. Instead of preserving cleanliness, the shoe covers leave stark black marks on the white floor—traces of presence that contradict their conventional function.
Noticing the spreading traces, the artist begins to clean—methodically, obsessively—attempting to erase the footprints. But with every movement, new marks appear. To cope, the artist clamps a mop between their legs, walking and wiping simultaneously, striving to erase while still moving forward. This intertwining rhythm of cleansing and staining gradually slips into a cadence where futility and persistence coexist.
Gradually, audience members are invited into the space, also wearing shoe covers that mark the floor. The traces multiply beyond the artist’s capacity to cleanse. Mops are passed to the audience, and even robotic cleaners are employed—but the proliferation of footprints continues, overwhelming any attempt at removal.
Significantly, shoe covers – usually used to prevent contamination – are now a tool that leaves a visible trace. This reversal questions our obsessive desire for cleanliness, purity, and control, highlighting how instruments of “protection” may also cause harm. The performance confronts the contradiction between intention and impact, revealing the absurdity of trying to remain untouched while being inherently participatory.
Technical:
The work requires General Lighting Setup, a overhead-mounted Camera, a live projection and no sound system.
Safety:
All materials are non-toxic and water-based; no permanent alteration to venue.
Flexibility:
The floor covering can be removed post-performance.
Interactive form:
The audience enters in batches or in groups (depending on the size of the venue)
Invite the audience to "clean up" or "leave a trace" through actions
Ideal white floor area (performance area) 6m x 10m
Allowing more footsteps to remain, creating a "diffusion" feel, and accommodating around 15 audience members to enter and interact
Laying PVC white stage flooring
General Lighting Setup
Flat, uniform white light across the entire white performance surface.
Live projection
A live overhead camera will capture the performance from a top-down perspective and project it in real time onto a side wall or screen.