6 March 2018

‘Benevolent Nerves’ by Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw at 427 gallery

Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view
‘Benevolent Nerves’ by Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw at 427 gallery
Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view

21st Century E.G.G.

Black tea leaves (1 cup) Sea salt (2/3 cups) Wood ash (3 cups) Charcoal ash (3 cups) Calcium Oxide (3 cups) Rice Husks (1-1.4 kilo) Duck Eggs (1 dozen) * * 56.7 g (mass) 

– Brew tea, infused at a 1:8 ratio, in boiling water. Once brewed, let steep for one hour to strengthen.

– Using a sizeable vessel – combine salt, wood ash, charcoal ash and calcium oxide. This combination of natural alkaline compounds aids in activating the preservation process.

– Once steeped, add 3 cups of tea as well as strained leaves to the mixture. Stir thoroughly, adding surplus tea as deemed necessary, until a slurry-like consistency is achieved.

* Adorn latex gloves as the hybrid is mildly corrosive and may result in tissue damage. 

Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view
Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view
Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view
Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view
Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view
Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view
Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view
Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view
Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view
Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view
Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view
Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view

– Place six eggs into alkaline solution, coat thoroughly and let sit for 15 minutes. Fill a second vessel with rice husks. After the immersion period has commenced, tumble eggs in husk basin to yield uniform coating. Apply gentle pressure where required as to assure a secure bond. Repeat with two succeeding batches.

– Leave encrusted eggs to sit overnight.

– Come morning, prepare a bed of natural soil – preferably with high clay-content. Select an outdoor location that receives ample precipita- tion and will be left undisturbed by human activity.

– Construct a long and narrow trench, 1 ft. deep at minimum, in which to place the 1 dozen eggs. Replenish the channel with soil, packed loosely as not to cause structural damage to the preserves.

Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view
Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view
Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view
Adam Shiu-Yang Shaw, Benevolent Nerves, 427 gallery, exhibition view

– In warmer climates (upwards of 15 °C), leave the eggs to process for a minimum of 100 days. For colder temperatures (below 15 °C), they may sit for up to 240. The preserves should be checked individually and intermittently, onwards of presumed completion date.

* Pídàn is said to have originated within China’s Hunan Province. Various renditions of this preservation method can be traced to Shanghai, Guangdong Province, Laos, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. 

Imprint

ArtistAdam Shiu-Yang Shaw
ExhibitionBenevolent Nerves
Place / venue427 gallery, Riga
Dates26 January – 1 March 2018
Websitefourtoseven.info
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See also