Cynthia Weng

This practice-based honours project unravels and explores into the tension between traditional Chinese burial customs and Shanghai's rapid urbanisation through a critical design approach. Using 3D rendering techniques, I visualise the growing death rates in Shanghai against the backdrop of shrinking burial space, where each plot is limited to under one square metre. The video installation features four looping sequences of cubes, growing progressively chaotic, symbolising burial plots and reflecting the cultural significance of the number four, which denotes “death” in Chinese culture.

The project critically assesses the conflict between preserving cultural heritage and managing modern urban development. Tools like Blender are used to craft digital landscapes inspired by Feng Shui principles, addressing the challenges of maintaining ancestral traditions amidst constrained urban spaces. This work aims to provoke reflection on the preservation of cultural identity, spirituality, and the negative impact of urban growth on long-standing traditions.