反转的炼金术 Reversed Alchemy
The performance project in 2012
image from the art project of ‘REVERSED ALCHEMY’,copyright  belongs to artist Jin Jing
棉花糖机的主动力:拆出来的电脑硬盘 The main power of the cotton candy machine: the disassembled computer hard drive
 
2012年,网络上一个关于可以使用电脑硬盘来制作棉花糖的视频引起了我的强烈的兴趣:这是一个多么荒诞却充满诗意的想法。于是,我开始了一场结果未知的冒险:我启动一个的制作项目,定下了一些相关的限制条件之后,计划将一台苹果电脑完整的拆散,再将拆下的每个部分组合起来——尝试着做出一台真正的棉花糖机。
In 2012, a video on the Internet about using a computer hard drive to make marshmallows aroused my strong interest: what an absurd but poetic story. So, I embarked on an ‘adventure’ with unknown results: I started a production project, that was, after setting some related restrictions, I planned to dismantle an Mac computer completely, and then combine each part that was removed—trying to make a real cotton candy machine.
 

整个制作过程里有一些专业电脑技术人员和机械师的介入与帮助。在完全不知道是否有可行性和成功率的情况,所有介入的专业人士都用着认真的态度去完成这个过程,一个从高技术向低技术,从数码技术向简单机械的转变过程。

During the whole production process, some professional computer technicians and mechanics intervened and helped. Without knowing the feasibility and success rate at all, all intervening professionals took a serious attitude to complete this process, a process of transition from high technology to low technology, from digital technology to simple machinery.

image from the art project of ‘REVERSED ALCHEMY’,copyright  belongs to artist Jin Jing

制作完成的棉花糖机部分 The finished cotton candy machine

材料Material:Mac电脑

尺寸size:50*50cm*102cm

2012

 进行到最后的结果是:棉花糖机确实被制作了出来,但是因为硬盘的转速和加热温度完全达不到标准,所以这台机器没有实用功能。那么,最初的那个网络视频是真的还是假的,是荒诞的还是诗意的呢?或许在我们的现实生活中,两者的区别已经不重要了。所以这个作品被命名为《反转的炼金术》,长达两个月的表演型的制作过程便是作品本身。
The final result was: the cotton candy machine was indeed made, but because the hard drive's rotation speed and heating temperature were completely below the standard, this machine had no practical functions. So, is the original online video real or fake, absurd or poetic? Perhaps in our real life, the difference between the two is not important anymore. So this work was named ‘Reversed Alchemy’ , and the two-month performance-based production process is the work itself.

项目记录片 Documentary of the whole process, 12’6’’, 2012

 
这个作品是一场历时了两个月的行为表演,我在整个过程中更像是导演,导演了这场没有实际产出的制作。

This work is a performance that lasted for two months. I was more like a director throughout the process, directed a production which was without functional output.

 

整个制作中途碰到了无数的技术问题和阻碍,有些问题还是无解的。例如,有一个电脑专家就曾经指出硬盘的转速远远达不到棉花糖机的转速,所以网络上那个视频可能是假的。但是他在了解我的创作意图后,又继续埋头研究如何尽可能地去接近最终的目的。其他帮助我的技术人员和朋友也是这样:在完全不知道是否有可行性和成功率的情况,所有人都很严肃而专业地去完成每个细节。这种严肃让整个制作过程显得更加荒诞。

There were countless technical problems and obstacles during the production, some of which were unsolvable. For example, a computer expert once pointed out that the rotational speed of the hard disk was far below the rotational speed of the cotton candy machine, so the video on the Internet might be fake. But after he understood my intentions, he continued to study how to approach the final goal as much as possible.The same went for other technicians and friends who helped me. Without knowing the feasibility and success rate at all, everyone is serious and professional to complete each detail. This seriousness made the entire production process even more absurd.

 
项目纪录片截图 Screenshots of documentary 

我选择的拆这台Mac机是生产于90年代的第一代Mac。在不使用暴力,不破坏每个部件,完整地拆出所有零件的前提下,拆解过程变得非常复杂而缓慢,花了将近两周。期间使用了很多不同的工具,也得到了很多电脑专家的帮助.

The Mac machine I chose to disassemble was the first generation Mac produced in the 90s. Under the premise of not using violence, not destroying every part, the dismantling process became very complicated and slow. 

 

下图是在完成全部拆解之后,所有零件的汇总图,总数比之前预想的要多得多。我当时粗略地统计了一下,光是螺丝钉就有上百颗。

The picture below is the collection of all parts after all disassembly was completed, and the total number was much more than previously expected. I did a rough count at the time, and there were hundreds of screws alone.

Reversed Alchemy-2(Installation, Preformance, Video,2012)
REVERSED ALCHEMY (process NO.1)
 所有被拆解出来的零件,都将再用于棉花糖机的制作,整个过程中不再添加新的零件或材料。
All the disassembled parts will be reused in the production of the cotton candy machine, and no new parts or materials will be added during the whole process.

展出现场
展出现场Exhibition site

反转的炼金术展出现场 Exhibition site of  Reversed Alchemy

De Appel Arts Centre

Amsterdam,2012

“反转的炼金术”展出现场
 Composition of works:
The failed cotton candy machine: Mac computer, about 50*50cm*102cm
Documentary: projector on the wall, 12’6“
Cotton-candy-machine-01

棉花糖机完成之后,我选择在展出开幕的当晚第一次验证它的实用功能。

After the cotton candy machine was completed, I chose to verify its practical functions for the first time on the night of the opening of the exhibition. 

 

不出所料,因为硬盘的转速和加热温度完全达不到糖融化的标准,所以在折腾半个多小时并且耗光了三个喷火器之后,这个机器宣布制作失败。而观众非常热心的参与,为我出主意和提建议,这个让这个长达两个月荒诞行为有了一个完美的结局。Unsurprisingly, because the speed and heating temperature of the hard disk did not meet the standards for melting sugar, after more than half an hour of trial and exhaustion of three flamethrowers, the machine was declared a failure. But all the audiences were very enthusiastic about participating, giving ideas and suggestions, which made this two-month-long absurd behavior a perfect ending.

image from the art project of ‘REVERSED ALCHEMY’,copyright  belongs to artist Jin Jing

记录片截图:在展出的当天第一次使用棉花糖机做糖,失败。

Documentary screenshot: The first time to use this cotton candy machine to make sugar, and failed.