Past, present and future combine to create one singular, paradoxical event: the individual. The human being, coming from the past, living in the present, and anticipating the future, does not know everything of his or her origin. Origin and identity are closely interwoven, and many artists, philosophers and scientists have asked questions about the authenticity of the self-moving-forward. There is an unseen river flowing beneath each thought, word and action as one feels their way through this existence. Our ability to interpret the natural world has led down an increasing path of manipulation of our surroundings and perceptions. The relatively new field of epigenetic research focuses on origin, specifically of non-genetic biological origins of behavior. Of course, these researchers are pointing toward an age-old question: Does the past hold the keys of the future? Liu Dao’s latest exhibition “Flashbulb on Memory Lane” explores this question and more.