Sanzu Ding and its Motif: Hypotheses on the Origin and Evolution of the ‘Hammer-Sickle’ Symbol

2013–2018
Installation

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“Sanzu Ding and its Motif” is an archaeological subject that “Professor Yao” researched extensively between 2013 and 2018. The ‘Sanzu Ding’, a ritual pottery vessel, bears a mysterious symbol uncannily similar to the hammer and sickle associated with modern communism. The vessel was unearthed by archaeologists in 1921, and Carbon-14 dating indicates that it was made around 3000 BC during the Neolithic period. Professor Yao, a specialist in ancient Chinese ideograms, proposes six hypotheses concerning the origin and evolution of this symbol, drawing on research in archaeology, semiology, and psychoanalysis. “Professor Yao” is in fact a fictional character performed by the artist, and some of the works cited in the research consist of fabricated and appropriated archival materials.

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The formation of the fictional persona “Professor Yao” unfolded through a multi-layered series of performances. The project originated in an initial series of performative lectures presented at universities and art centers across France, China, and Germany.

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Assuming the authoritative position of an invited academic, she presented her research to an unsuspecting audience of students. In later stages, within exhibition contexts, the research expanded into a constellation of media and documentary forms—photographs, light boxes, ceramic objects, printed texts, and video installations—displayed in the manner of a museum collection.

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The project takes three parallel forms: lecture-performance, exhibition, and video screening.