Prayer
zhao ran
Royal College of Art
Contemporary wish-making in China is not simply a religious practice, but is closely linked to social pressure, consumer culture, and the desire for security. This project sees “making a wish” as a process in which anxiety becomes religiousized, commodified, and financialized.Through research into the temple economy, donation-box culture, young people’s prayer practices, and audience interaction tests, I created a mirrored donation-box installation. Audiences write down a wish, place it into the box, receive a receipt-like transaction record, and finally see themselves reflected in the mirror. The project critiques how the contemporary temple economy exploits anxiety and the expectation of external salvation. It also invites audiences to reflect on why they make wishes, what they give in return. In the end, it calls for people to stop relying on outside fixes and start looking inward to find their own strength.