Cast Waves into Mountains — kongfanyan.art

Cast Waves into Mountains 铸浪为山

February 2023 -- May 2023

Cast Waves into Mountains is a hardcover photo book that reflects on personal journeys of migration, travel, and transition during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing inspiration from Tang Nannan’s concept of transformation—where waves symbolize impermanence and mountains represent enduring strength—the project explores how small moments accumulate into life-altering experiences.

The book weaves together images taken across China, Australia, and the UK, using the recurring motifs of oceans, plants, and roads to represent themes of homesickness, resilience, and the uncertainty of personal growth. The ocean embodies the emotional turbulence of separation and healing, while plants symbolize vitality and the potential for renewal. Roads metaphorically reflect the journey toward new possibilities in a post-pandemic world.

Blending digital and film photography, the work transcends political commentary, instead offering a deeply introspective narrative on belonging and displacement. Designed with meticulous attention to materiality—through thoughtful layouts, scaled page inserts, and paper textures—it invites viewers to engage with the physicality of movement and memory.

Ultimately, this project speaks to the universal quest for home, identity, and stability, resonating with those who have experienced displacement, transition, or the lingering impacts of global crises.