Ling Ruotong
Bronze Prize
Title: Social Clock
Competition Theme: Dreams and Visions
Medium: Fine Art
Ling Ruotong delivers a thoughtfully crafted project that reflects on the intrinsic uniqueness of individual growth and the societal pressures imposed by the notion of the 'social clock.' Inspired by the saying "Everyone blooms differently," Ling chose four flowers representing the seasons—winter jasmine, the sacred lotus, the hardy begonia, and the cold-growing cymbidium—to symbolize life's natural diversity and the different paces at which we all progress. Her artwork challenges the traditional timelines set for life's milestones, suggesting instead a society where people are free to develop in their own time, without the constraints of age-based expectations.
The judges were impressed by Ruotong's comprehensive research and the poignant use of drawing, making, and material investigation, which served as strong investigative tools. Her ability to interweave found and made elements crafted an articulate analogy for concepts of growth, evolution, and time as a human-made construct. Ruotong's artwork not only poses a creative inquiry into the concept of time but also stands as a metaphor for personal and societal evolution. Her balanced blend of scholarship, research, and artistry, along with a methodical approach to her creative process, was lauded as demonstrating great promise for her future endeavours in art practice.