The Same Solar Longitude, Different Seasons: A Southern Hemisphere Interpretation of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms

Version 2 — Revised and Expanded Edition

The Same Solar Longitude, Different Seasons: A Southern Hemisphere Interpretation of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms is an artist–research project by Jingmin Ren exploring relationships among solar longitude, hemispheric seasons, ecological time, place, cultural knowledge and contemporary artistic practice.

Version 2 further develops the Southern Hemisphere framework introduced in Version 1. It distinguishes the globally shared astronomical solar longitude from a Southern Hemisphere seasonal reading. Within this artistic-research framework, the September equinox—the beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere—is established as Seasonal 0°, followed by the Southern Hemisphere summer solstice at 90°, autumn equinox at 180°, and winter solstice at 270°.

This seasonal coordinate does not replace or recalculate astronomical solar longitude. The actual astronomical coordinate remains unchanged; what is translated is the seasonal reference frame.

Using the Twenty-Four Solar Terms as an important Chinese cultural and astronomical point of departure, the research examines how the same Earth–Sun relationship may be experienced differently across hemispheres, latitudes, landscapes and cultures. It develops a relational framework connecting astronomical reference, hemispheric seasonal translation, situated seasonal observation, ecological expression, plural cultural interpretation and artistic practice. Local ecological seasons are not assumed to conform to a single four-season model and must be observed in relation to particular places.

Version 2 also documents the transition of the research from theoretical proposition into public artistic practice through Jingmin Ren’s site-specific mural Solar Longitude – Time Orbit, completed at Bondi Sea Wall, Sydney, Australia, on 7 August 2026. The work brings solar longitude, the Twenty-Four Solar Terms, Chinese calligraphy, Southern Hemisphere seasonal experience, local ecological observation and public encounter into a shared visual field.

The project does not seek to redefine astronomical solar longitude, replace the traditional Twenty-Four Solar Terms, or establish a universal seasonal calendar. Rather, it proposes a Southern Hemisphere position of observation and translation from which relationships among celestial recurrence, season, ecology, place, culture and human experience may be reconsidered.

The Same Solar Longitude. Different Seasons. Different Landscapes. One Shared Rhythm.

中文摘要

《同一太阳黄经,不同季节——二十四节气的南半球诠释》是任静敏开展的一项艺术研究项目,探讨太阳黄经、南北半球季节、生态时间、地方环境、文化知识与当代艺术实践之间的关系。

Version 2 在第一版提出的南半球视角基础上进一步发展其理论框架,并明确区分全球共享的实际天文太阳黄经与作品研究所建立的南半球季节阅读体系。

在这一艺术研究框架中,以九月分点——即南半球春季的开始——作为 Seasonal 0°(季节0°),随后依次为南半球夏至90°、秋分180°和冬至270°。

这一季节坐标并不重新计算或取代实际天文太阳黄经。实际天文太阳黄经保持不变;发生转译的是季节参照框架。

研究以中国二十四节气作为重要的文化与天文出发点,进一步探讨当人类处于不同半球、纬度、景观与文化环境时,如何对同一个地球—太阳关系产生不同的季节经验与理解。研究由此建立起一个连接天文参照、半球季节转译、地方季节观察、生态显现、多元文化诠释与艺术实践的关系性框架。地方生态季节并不被假定为必须符合单一的四季模式,而需要根据具体地点进行独立观察。

Version 2 同时记录了这一研究从理论命题进入公共艺术实践的重要阶段:任静敏于2026年8月7日在澳大利亚悉尼 Bondi Sea Wall 完成现场特定公共艺术作品《太阳黄经-时间轨道》(Solar Longitude – Time Orbit)。作品将太阳黄经、二十四节气、中国书法、南半球季节经验、地方生态观察与公众相遇带入同一个视觉与公共空间。

这一研究并不试图重新定义天文学太阳黄经,也不试图取代传统二十四节气或建立一套普遍适用于全球的季节历法。它所提出的是一种来自南半球的观察与转译位置,由此重新思考宇宙周期、季节、生态、地点、文化与人的经验之间的关系。

同一太阳黄经。不同季节。不同景观。同一种共享节律。

Version Notes / What is new in Version 2

What is new in Version 2

Version 2 is a substantially revised and expanded edition. Major developments include:

• a clearer distinction between actual astronomical solar longitude and the Southern Hemisphere seasonal reading;
• the establishment of the September equinox, the beginning of Southern Hemisphere spring, as Seasonal 0° within the artistic-research framework;
• clarification that astronomical solar longitude remains unchanged while the seasonal reference frame is translated;
• expanded discussion of hemispheric perspective, seasonal relativity, situated ecology and local phenology;
• documentation of Solar Longitude – Time Orbit, completed at Bondi Sea Wall, Sydney, on 7 August 2026;
• development of public encounter and site-specific practice as components of the artistic-research methodology;
• expanded bilingual English–Chinese discussion, visual documentation and revised appendices.