Jieting Fang
LUCKY RUBDuring my year in Edinburgh, I often passed iconic statues like Bobby, observing tourists rubbing and polishing their noses and toes for luck. Intrigued by this, I conducted interviews to uncover the motivations and conversations behind these behaviors, revealing a blend of cultural traditions, personal beliefs, and the joy of engaging with public art.
To explore the balance between ‘protecting statues’ and ‘enjoying them,’ I created a series of scratch-off posters. At the exhibition, visitors can interact with these posters by scratching off the surface to reveal the full appearance of the statues beneath. This mirrors the physical interaction people have with the actual statues, highlighting the delicate balance between preservation and interaction. The project aims to educate visitors about the history and significance of these statues while encouraging reflection on how we can cherish and protect our shared cultural heritage. This blog documents my thoughts and observations since the start of the course. Hope you enjoy it!