South of the Sea
2020-2024
Supported by:
New Century Resort Chess Bay, Hainan
Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Changjiang
Bawangling Tropical Rainforest Nature Reserve
Zoological Society of London
Joseph Needham Institute, Cambridge University
Special Thanks
Prof. Samual Turvey
Dr. Heidi Ma
Janson Du
An island, entirely of itself, represents the world in miniature. These tiny pieces of land, the existence of which imagination can just about hang on to, act as metaphors to provide new clarity about life when the details are simplified and stripped away. [.. ..] They provide a fertile stage for experimentation, showing us alternate outward or inward realities and how these realities could be reached — from new models of political philosophy and how society might function to deeply personal revelations about identity, explored in solitude when the wider world comes distant, and its noise is quieted.
——Samuel Turvey, The Tomb of the Mili Mongga
South of the Sea is a four-year, research-driven project by Lisa Chang Lee, conducted in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London's (ZSL) conservation team led by Prof. Samuel Turvey and Dr Heidi Ma. The project explores Hainan Island—a microcosm of modernisation, indigenous culture, and the natural environment—focusing on its core nature reserve, which houses China's only and best-preserved tropical rainforest.
The project manifests through a series of works:
Artist's Documentary Film: This film delves into the complexity and tension between local culture and imposed modernity, and between economic growth and biodiversity conservation. Featuring forest guards and a young Indigenous Li boy, it highlights the human aspect of conservation and the delicate balance the community faces.
Forester Feng Zhenlin, who’s worked in the reserve for 40 years
Silent Chorus: An audiovisual installation based on the Bawangling mountain region of Hainan Island's primitive tropical rainforest. Shot entirely during night-time, the video footage showcases the rainforest’s bio-fluorescent phenomenon under ultraviolet light, revealing vibrant colour palettes invisible to the human eye under normal conditions. The sound material includes field recordings from the core area of the rainforest, and traditional Li songs were then reconstructed to integrate with the visual in the final immersive installation.
Lisa and Han Jinbing in Li Village Sanpai.
In addition to these, the project includes photography and other artistic pieces derived from extensive research. By using Hainan Island as a microcosm, the project aims to illuminate the tension and struggles of diverse local cultures and cultural identities confronting homogenising capitalism and policies that prioritise economic growth over the preservation of resources and cultural heritage. While centred on Hainan, it reflects broader global issues, offering insights into how modernisation and economic development often come at the expense of Indigenous cultures and natural environments. South of the Sea sheds light on Hainan's unique challenges and serves as a lens to examine universal themes of cultural erosion, environmental exploitation, and the complex relationship between progress and preservation.
Silent Chorus (trailer)
4K video with 5.1 surround sound
2024
Credits:
Concept, Direction, and Integration of Sound and Visuals: Lisa Chang Lee
Original Sound Recordings: Lisa Chang Lee
Sound Design and Composition: James Wilkie
Li Language Voiceover: Jinbing Han
Cameraman: Jingbin Tan
Video Editing/ Colour Correction: Gavin Xiong
After Effect: Jingheng Guan
Forest Guide: Wentao Han, Zhenlin Feng, Qiong Chen
Driver: Dong He