"Will I be forgotten by the world when I am old and living in a nursing home?" This poignant question underscores the essence of "Making the Past Present." Every individual embodies the memories of others, keeping loved ones alive through remembrance and the retelling of their stories. True death occurs when one is forgotten.

Artists Lang Lang and Ziyang Lin have meticulously recorded the stories of elderly residents at the Changde Nursing Home through photography and face-to-face interviews. On the day of the photo shoot, many elderly individuals were observed sitting alone, gazing at their surroundings, seemingly waiting for someone to chat with. For most, this nursing home represents the final station on their life’s journey. Despite the frailty of their voices and the repetition of their words, the unique charm accumulated through years of experience shone through during the interviews. A natural bond formed between the subjects and the camera; genuine emotions were expressed honestly and directly through each pause and gaze, unfolding through the linearity of time. When they shared their past, their memories were captured and preserved, with all traces created by time reemerging through their words. This tender exchange, shared and recorded by both the elderly and the artists, embodies the most poetic part of the project—a delicate memory revived. 

Simultaneously, the exhibition collaborates with No.29 and OOLONG to deconstruct the meaning of memory from various dimensions. Drawing inspiration from the everyday objects and favorite foods of the elderly residents—corn, apple, sesame, peanut, and milk powder—these ingredients are transformed into mocha, cracker, nougat, and tiramisu, offering guests a taste of sweetness wrapped in warmth at the table. Within this setting, candlelight and aromas weave between people and space. The slow process of candle melting becomes a narration of time, creating a delicate balance between the audience and the pieces. This multi-sensory experience invites viewers to immerse themselves in a poetic journey, where memories are revived and cherished through the interplay of taste, scent, and visual storytelling.