Control

Control projects temporality into the growing process of the gourd in the mold. Zhao remains his thinking and adapts a consistent style in this work. The gourd has a long history in China. In traditional Chinese culture, it was a precious treasure and a religious instrument in Taoism, as well as spiritual sustenance of literati and hermits. Nowadays, with significant changes in modern culture and society, the gourd is given more practical meanings. People take it as a token of luck. They trust this irregularly shaped plant will promise an absolute perfection in the secular society.

For this reason, people attempt to intervene in its growth, make a few corrections, and take its natural beauty and vivid appearance in control. The technique is putting a mold on a growing gourd, hence it will grow as humans want. This technique has been widely used among people.