Jue Jue Zarli Min, Reframing the Invisible [×]

The U Bein Bridge on Thaungthaman Lake in Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma) is the longest and oldest surviving teak footbridge in the world. The bridge endures the weather and lake conditions all year round since 1850. The bridge is a structure, a relic and a situation, as this project explores a multiplicity of connections between the bridge, its histories, the environment, the lake, and community. As the lake water levels rise, its community is directly affected by the loss of land and the negotiation between human and nature occurs. Throughout the year, this environment is in a constant state of flux, as water levels rise, the bridge disappears, tourism, locals, farming and fishing become interchangeable.
The research has explored how atmospheres have the potential to envelope our senses, and ways of producing an experience with invisible conditions. We utilise our senses knowingly and unknowingly but when we encounter atmospheric qualities our senses become sensitive. This project questions how enhancing atmospheres through the senses can the invisible be encountered? This project responds to this profound situation of Thaungthaman Lake, to frame and amplify atmospheres within the site. The project activates an uninterrupted dialogue with the past, present and future.
The temporal interventions frame the invisible and overlooked conditions in the site by making apparent through traces and material arrangements, what has disappeared, to produce a subtle reference with what existed before and what will continue to endure. The gestures produce new atmospheres, reveal the effects of pollution, whilst rejuvenating a historical landmark for public enjoyment. The atmospheres produced are perpetually forming and deforming, appearing and disappearing based on the environmental forces. The assemblage of materials collected specifically from the surrounding environment and local industry such as plastic and fishing nets highlight the life span of materials and reappropriates these as part of the interventions.