To infinity and beyond

On first glance at the image above, it’s difficult to work out A) what on earth you’re looking at and B) how this neon matrix has anything to do with traditional Chinese gardens. But according to French architect Serge Salat they were an important source of inspiration for his disorientating installation, ‘Beyond the Infinity’ currently touring China.

The specific source of inspiration was the Suzhou gardens in east China, dating back to the 6th century BC and arranged to create a complex labyrinth, aiming to surprise visitors at every turn. Salat’s maze will certainly do just that, most explicitly if you walk face-first into one of the mirrored walls which endlessly reflect the 3D timber grids stacked and mounted around the gallery rooms.

Serge Salat's neon labyrinth currently touring China

The high-tech appearance of the installation is not unlike a scene from Keanu Reeves' film The Matrix and is inspired by advanced ideas of mystic mathematics and philosophy. As well as drawing on ancient Taoist theories of harmony, Salat was also influenced by 20th century art thinking about 'the fourth dimension' of existence, explored through a focus on geometric shapes by artists such as Malevich whose most famous work ‘White on White’ (1918) consists of a white square painted on a white canvas (perhaps not so visually stimulating as 'Beyond the Infinity' but equally concerned with cosmic notions of continuity and endlessness).

After launching in Jinan, China, at the end of August the show is now traveling around the country until November: Suzhou (09/09) – Shanghai (09/16) – Beijing (09/23) – Chengdu (10/01) – Dalian (10/14) – Xi’An (10/21) – Zhengzhou (10/28) – Shenzhen (11/04) – Hangzhou (TBC).