Zayn Qahtani’s residency film depicts the artist’s longstanding interest in death and rebirth unfolding in a new environment: Nanjing — a city where ancient heritage meets contemporary innovation. Zayn’s residency research engages with the cycles of death and rebirth, which made her naturally drawn to sacred sites such as mausoleums and temples during her time here. Zayn has also been inspired by the colours of life in Nanjing, from the rich earth tones of the mountains, to the fluorescence of the night markets full of lanterns and neon street signs. This brings a rebirth of interest in colour dynamics and natural pigments into the artist’s work, who for the past two years, has been working exclusively in monochrome.
This film project reflects the dualities embedded in Nanjing’s landscape: the spiritual calm of temples and mausoleums contrasted with the energy of digital modernity. The film captures the interplay of material, texture, environment, and thought — a visual meditation on transformation and continuity within the artist’s evolving practice.
The film serves as a dialogue between tradition and innovation — between the ancient spirit of Nanjing and the contemporary experimentation taking place within the Sixi Museum Residency. Through material processes, spatial experiences, and the lens of observation, it articulates how transformation and renewal emerge from both place and practice.
