Description

This photographic book A Tree is a Tree catalogues conceptual artist Michael Zheng's exhibition of the same title in 500 Capp Street, the David Ireland House in 2022. Ths San Francisco-based artist observes details within the architecture, history, and the personal stories embedded in David Ireland's House and uses the observation as a means of pointing to the transcendent moments inherent in daily life. The title derives from a Buddhist aphorism that informs the works in the exhibition, all of which place emphasis on "seeing" and "noticing", bringing attention to how we perceive.

The book highlights the 8 site-specific art installations in the exhibition, with full-colored photographic prints of the works including the details, as well as the concept synopsis for each piece.

The book also includes an introduction by the curator Lian Ladia, a critical essay by the author and art critic Max Blue, and a conversation between Zheng and the famed art critic and curator Hou Hanru.

"The site-specific pieces ...] function like a series of Zen kōans - unanswerable riddles in the guise of deceptively simple phrases, intended to coax Buddhist disciples out of their entrenched modes of perception. Zheng's spare and poetic installations similarly act as catalysts for philosophical queries at the intersection of art theory and spirituality, emphasizing the dynamic nature of perceived experience." -- Max Blue

Located in San Francisco's Mission District, 500 Capp Street is the former residence of the late conceptual artist David Ireland, as well as his magnum opus. It now functions as a public art institution for artist-driven exhibitions, educational workshops and curatorial practice.