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The (Middle Path) Bridge
(Between Heaven and Earth)

DJI_20240830194423_0539_D-2.jpg

About

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I (See See Kwan) am a Hong Kong American artist. 

I wanted to build a bridge for my late dad.

My first generation immigrant dad was a civil engineer who worked on the new Oakland/SF bay bridge.  His untimely death and my reflection of it, inspired my dream to build an architectural art installation of a rainbow bridge, that would highlight the mysterious impermanence of life. 

This project brought together a team of creators and builders I met at burning man: riggers, metal and wood builders, sign makers, and artists. It would not be possible without their collaboration, and for that I am grateful for their skills and expertise.

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Philosophy

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To think about death is to think about life. USA society lacks variety and depth in ritual practices for the dead.

The (Middle Path) Bridge (Between Heaven and Earth) is a celebration of transformation.

The curving bridge itself represents the in-between transient space between Yin and Yang. It is a bridge, elevated between Heaven and Earth, forever working towards balance, harmony, equanimity. Yin and Yang represents all dualities—life and death, light and dark, order and disorder, each inextricably linked to the other. And to realize that life and death cannot be one without the other, that maybe death is not the end, but maybe just another beginning

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Experience

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The mission is to hold space for another kind of death ritual, aside from The Temple, to bring Asian representation on the playa, and to bring a community together to better understand our past, present and future.

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The bridge is a creative and inspiring space to hang out and spend time to self-reflect. Our project gives the opportunity to experience a reinterpretation of an ancient ritual practice of communication and interaction between two worlds.

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Contained “Joss papers” and pens are provided for participants to make offerings at the metal burn barrel prayer box, they must walk the bridge to make their contribution. In daytime, participants can leisurely walk the curving bridge and appreciate the changing perspectives. Once reaching the center, participants can hang out within the center chill space surrounded by die cut decal panels that peek sunlight. At nighttime, participants can walk the brightly lit rainbow bridge.

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The Middle Path Bridge Between Heaven and Earth was featured in Dezeen's article "Ten architectural installations from Burning Man 2024"

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Here is a mini doc YouTube video made by my documentation team, Paul and Jing:

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Drone footage from celestrial view by Rand Larson:
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Chinatown_3 2.jpg
Photography by Jamen Percy
Chinatown_2 copy.jpg
Photography by Gurpreet Chawla
Chinatown_bridge2.jpg
Photography by Paul Chelmis
Chinatown4.jpg
Photography by Rand Larson
MiddlePathBridge_MATT.jpeg
Photography by Mark Fromson
chinatown_1.jpg
Photography by Mylan Truong
Chinatown_3.jpg
Photography by Paul Chelmis
Chinatown_4.jpg
Photography by Jamen Percy
Middlepath2.heic
Photography by Paul Chelmis
Middle path.heic
Photography by Paul Chelmis
Drone footage.jpeg
BuildingBM2024.jpg
Photography by Paul Chelmis
Middlepath3.heic
Photography by Paul Chelmis

Dream Team: 

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See See Kwan 

Artist and Production Lead

Build Team on playa

LED electrical configuration and soldering

Camp Lead 

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Evan Williams

Prebuild center bridge, Build Team on playa and Strike 

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Taylor Smith 

Build Team on playa and Strike 

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Matt Deluca

CAD and build team on playa

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Buddha Monkey 

Build Team on playa 

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Paul and Jing 

Documentation team and fluffer help and Strike

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Beyonce 

Pre-Build curving platform

 

Krystal 

Pre-build help, Build Team on playa and Strike 

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Mangaux

Fluffer and Camp mom

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Peachie

Fluffer and Strike 

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James 

Laser cut metal box and construction

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Chrystie Capelli 

Metal center frame work

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Racist 

Fluffer Lead 

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Judy

Prebuild help

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Mylan 

Decals print and install

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