Chinese Ladders

There is a story behind Chinese Ladders. On the northeastern ridge of Mount Qomolangma, there is a rocky step known as the Second Step on the earth. In 1975, a Chinese mountaineering team struggled for almost a day to fix a six-meter metallic ladder to the step. Since then, mountaineers from all over the world used this ladder to get to the summit. Thus, it is also called the Chinese Ladder, representing a rarely known glory of humans challenging nature.

In 2008, after being used for 33 years at an altitude of 8700 meters, the Chinese Ladder was replaced and collected by the Mount Qomolangma Museum. It has been a unique cultural relic then. Accordingly, Zhao created new Chinese Ladders modeled on the traditional Chinese bamboo ladder. Now it is exhibited together with some Chinese antiquities. However, it reminds us of the Tower of Babel in the Bible. Thus, it establishes a new relationship so that the characteristics and historical values of Chinese Ladders are completely altered. Previously, it contained many emotions and meanings. But with the changeover in time, place and context, it does not have any practical function anymore. Thus, it becomes a speciously spiritual signified.