The Epitaph Series

Since ancient times, carving text into clay and stone has been a way to commemorate events, preserve beliefs, and memorialize the dead. In her Epitaph series, Chang applies the same reverence to handwritten reflections from visitors to her installations. Building up extensive layers of paper and gesso on canvas, she forgoes technology in favor of sculpting the surface and carving each letterform by hand, which becomes a month-long ritual that honors the unknown author of each sentence. The sculptural quality of the statement is responsive to the environment, alternately disappearing and making itself known depending on the changing light of the day.