Listening-to-the-rain Stop / SWOOP STUDIO

Fields with seasonal crop rotation present a changing landscape, while the irrigation canal remains a constant, straight line. I walked along a narrow path atop the canal, leading into the fields. At the end of the path, a black roof lay nestled against the ground. Amidst the colorful fields, the black object stood apart, an element of detachment. I paused in its shadow, resting between terraces. The silent sculpture vanished, its roof tethered lightly to the earth like a kite, subtly reflecting the field's glow. The space floated around a hidden core, where the echo of dripping water could be heard. The sound vibrated invisibly underground, rising briefly before merging into nature, allowing the space to expand further. Embedded in the cement were old objects, resembling relics that evoked memories of rural life. The pool's surface rippled gently, with an old water jar overturned inside. I observed the flowing water deep within the rice fields, echoing the unseen Qujiang River, hidden behind the dike. "Listening-to-the-rain Stop" is situated in the fields along the Qujiang River in Zhejiang. The lightweight structure houses an ancient sound device known as "Dripping into buried jar", which integrates the soundscape of the countryside. This installation explores the fusion of rural everyday life with artistic spirituality through the sonorous landscape of the fields.

© Fangfang Tian

• architects: SWOOP STUDIO
• Location: Quzhou, China
• Project Year: 2023
• Photographs: Fangfang Tian
• Photographs: STUDIO FANG
• Photographs: Zhang Zhun
• Photographs: Yang Min
• Photographs:
• Area: 40.0 m2

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