Artistic Stones

Stone symbolizes nature’s strength and form - in the East and in the West. Kapok flower is known as the city flower of Guangzhou (China), where the kiwisual International Artist-in-Residence Project is hosted. The Fern is the most recognizable iconic plant used to represent New Zealand internationally. Guangzhou has been Auckland’s sister city since 1989. I try to use the stone as a bridge, and create a continuous pattern by unifying two plants on the stone, because I want to use the infinite pattern to reflect the longtime relationship between the two cities. The colour black and white reflects day and night, light and shadow, as well as Yin and Yang in Chinese aesthetic philosophy to describe how apparently opposite or contrary forces symbolize the building blocks for the communities of future as they interconnect and grow together.

Alvin Xiong is an interdisciplinary contemporary artist of Asian heritage based in Auckland, New Zealand. His work has been exhibited and winning awards both in New Zealand and China, as well as collected by international private collectors and governmental institutions. He is also an independent curator specified in art & cultural exchange project between New Zealand and Asia.