"Tea of Oblivion"
On View: Nov. 6, 2015 - Feb. 19, 2016
Heidi Lau and Megan Ledbetter
Heidi Lau, (Detail) 2014
In an old Chinese folktale, the goddess of reincarnation Meng Po serves up the Tea of Oblivion to souls passing on to another life. Made with herbs collected from ponds and streams, the mystic brew ensures that the memories and experiences of previous lives are forgotten. Occasionally, one may refuse the tea to retain the details of their lives.
Through their work, Heidi Lau and Megan Ledbetter embody the tale of Meng Po and its connection to nature and nostalgia. Incorporating elements from their respective cultures, the artists preserve personal connections to home. Lau’s ceramic sculptures and Ledbetter’s photography are rich with details collected from various earthly sources and suggest a threshold between the physical and intangible.
Megan Ledbetter, 2014