Yang Duan

This project focuses on the entanglement of geological memory and social memory in the development of coal resources in Shanxi, within the context of the Anthropocene. The geological strata appear with a sense of fatalism— plant deposits from hundreds of millions of years ago have given rise to today’s coal, revealing the intricate interplay between nature, history, technology, and humanity. Through book design and experimental video, the project retraces the trajectory of coal and human development, conveying the emotional shifts and deep connections underlying resource extraction. It aims to foster reflection on local ecology, resource ethics, and collective identity.