Dear Fayerbanke

"I have forgotten nothing, but some things are only meant to be kept. They cannot be spoken of, nor thought about, yet they cannot be forgotten. They cannot be turned into language; they are unable to become language. Once they are put into words, they cease to be what they are. They exist as a hazy blend of warmth and solitude, a ripened mixture of hope and despair. They have only two resting places: the heart and the grave. Like postage stamps—some are meant for sending letters, while others exist solely for collection."

— Shi Tiesheng, I and the Temple of Earth: Essays from Beijing

This piece was created in collaboration with Boqing Zheng.