Life and Death

Silvia Fok

Description

For all their ubiquity, life and death have not been fully explored as integral themes in many forms of contemporary Chinese art. Life and Death addresses that lacuna. Exploring the strategies employed by a variety of Chinese artists who engage with these timeless concerns, Silvia Fok opens a new line of inquiry about contemporary art in a rapidly changing environment.

 

Fok focuses, in particular, on the ways in which these artists use their own bodies, animals’ bodies, and other corporeal substances to represent life and death in performance art, installations, and photography. Over the course of her investigations, corporeality emerges as a common means of highlighting the social and cultural issues that surround these themes. By assessing its effectiveness in the expression of life, death, and related ideas, Fok ultimately illuminates the extent to which we can see corporeality as a significant trend in the history of contemporary art in China. Her conclusions will fascinate scholars of performance and installation art, photography, and contemporary Chinese art.

Sujets

• History of art
• Asian art
• Performance art
• General officer
• Installation art
• Anthropology
• Asian
• Art
• General
• Cultural Studies
• China

Informations

• Publié par: Intellect Books
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781841507644
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Life and Death: Art and the Body in Contemporary China
Life and Death: Art and the Body in Contemporary China
Silvia Fok

Intellect Bristol, UK / Chicago, USA
First published in the UK in 2013 by
Intellect, The Mill, Parnall Road, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 3JG, UK
First published in the USA in 2013 by
Intellect, The University of Chicago Press, 1427 E. 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
Copyright 2013 Silvia Fok
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Cover designer: Holly Rose
Copy-editor: MPS Technologies
Production manager: Melanie Marshall
Typesetting: John Teehan
ISBN 978-1-84150-626-5/EISBN 978-1-84150-764-4
Printed and bound by Hobbs the Printers Ltd, UK
Contents
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
Preface
Chapter 1: Life, Death and the Body in Art in the PRC
The production and reception of contemporary Chinese art
The artist s body as a revolutionary tool in contemporary Chinese art: Somatic perception and criticism
Life, death and the body in art
Tactile materiality of corpse in art
Tactile materiality of skull in art
Overview of the book
Notes
Chapter 2: The Role of the Body in Representing Death in Art: Simulation of Death versus Dying in the Name of Art versus Photography Documenting Dying and Death
Simulation of death
- Wei Guangqing, Suicide Project , 1988
- Lanzhou Art Army, Funeral/Burial , 1993
- The SHS Group, Big Glass, Paradise in a Dream , 1993
- Huang Yan, Lying on the Rail, Suicide/Murder News , 1996
- Zhu Gang, Obituary , 1999
- Zhou Bin, A Traffic Accident Scene , 1999
- Xing Danwen, Urban Fiction , 2004-present
Dying in the name of art
- Qi Li, Ice Burial , 1992
- Zhang Shengquan (Da Zhang), Dying on 1 January 2000
Photography documenting dying and death
- Wang Youshen, Before and After Grandmother Passed Away , 1989-1995
- Song Yongping, My Parents , 1999-2001
Conclusion
Notes
Chapter 3: Animal Body in Art
Human body interacting with animal body
- Zhang Peili, Document of Hygiene No. 3 , 1991
- Dai Guangyu, Incontinence , 2005
- Wang Jin, To Marry a Mule , 1995
- Wang Chuyu, Pigeon Dinner , 1999
- Zhang Shengquan, To Cross/To Carry a Goat , 1996
- Sun Yuan and Xiao Yu, Herdsman , 1998
- Xu Zhen, But I Don t Need Anything (I m Not Asking for Anything) , 1999
- Wu Gaozhong, Birthday on 28 May , 2000
- Sun Yuan and Peng Yu, A Safe Island , 2003
Animal bodies interacting among one another
- Xu Bing, A Case Study of Cultural Transference , 1994
- Sun Yuan and Peng Yu, Dogs Cannot Touch Each Other: Controversy Model , 2003
Display of living and dead animal body
- Xiao Yu, Ruan , 1999
- Yang Maoyuan, Inflated Horse , 2001
- Xu Bing, Wild Zebra , 2002
Conclusion
Notes
Chapter 4: Corporeal Materials in Art
Human body interacting with body parts
- Zhu Yu, Basics of Total Knowledge No. 4 , 1998-1999
- Zhu Yu, Skin Graft , 2000
Human body interacting with corpses
- Sun Yuan and Peng Yu, Body Link , 2000
- Zhu Yu, Eating People , 2000
- Zhu Yu, Sacrifice: Feed a Dog with His Child , 2002
Human ashes as material in art
- Dai Guangyu, Be Lost , 1999
- Sun Yuan and Peng Yu, One or All , 2004
- Xu Bing, Where Does the Dust Collect? , 2004
Human blood as material in art
- Yang Zhichao, Macau , 2005
Human hair as material in art
- Leung Mee Ping, Memorise the Future , 1998-2002
- Gu Wenda, United Nations - China Monument: The Great Wall of People , 2004
- He Chengyao, The Possibility of Hair , 2006
Human body as material in art
- Yang Zhichao and Ai Weiwei, Hide , 2002
- Yang Zhichao, Revelation No. 1: Earth , 2004
- He Yunchang, A Rib/Night Light , 2008-2009
Conclusion
Notes
Chapter 5: Transformative Roles of the Body in Art
The role of the human body from manipulating representation to presentation of ideas
The role of the animal body from object of representation to subject of art or art materials
The role of corporeal materials from subject of representation to art materials
Life, death and the body represented through technology in contemporary Chinese art
- Song Dong, Touching My Father (Parts 1-3) , 1997, 2002-2011, 2011
- Song Dong, Listening to My Family Talking about How I was Born , 2001
- Song Dong, Father and Son with My Daughter , 1998-2010
- Song Dong, Chinese Medicine Healing Story , 2004-2011
Conclusion: The significance of the body in contemporary Chinese art as a whole
Notes
List of Illustrations
1.1. Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, Reading for Three Female Corpses , 1997, performance, Courtesy of the artist.
1.2. Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, Reading for Male and Female Corpses , 1998, performance, Courtesy of the artist.
1.3. Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, The Dinner with Cancer II , 1994, installation, Courtesy of the artist.
1.4. Zhang Yang, Getting Home , 2007, film still, Courtesy of Filmko Films Distribution (HK) Limited.
1.5. Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, The Class , 2005, in the Conversations with Death on Life s First Street series, video, Courtesy of the artist.
1.6. Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, Death Seminar 4 , 2005, in the Conversations with Death on Life s First Street series, video, Courtesy of the artist.
1.7. Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, Death Seminar 6 , 2005, in the Conversations with Death on Life s First Street series, video, Courtesy of the artist video.
1.8. Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, Stars Arrives on Time , 2005, in the Conversations with Death on Life s First Street series, video, Courtesy of the artist.
1.9. Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, Conversations with Death on Life s First Street , 2005, video installation, Courtesy of the artist.
1.10. Anothermountainman (Stanley Wong), Impermanence , 2009, installation, Charming Experience , Hong Kong Museum of Art, February-April 2009, Courtesy of the artist.
1.11. Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, I am Living , 2002, video, 25 min., installation at 8 th Istanbul Biennial, 20 September - 16 November 2003, Courtesy of the artist.
1.12. Damien Hirst, For the Love of God, 2007, Platinum, diamonds and human teeth, 6 3/4 x 5 x 7 1/2 in. (17.1 x 12.7 x 19.1 cm), Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd, Courtesy White Cube / Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2012.
1.13. Damien Hirst, The Fear of Death (Full Skull), 2007, Resin and flies, Unique multiple 18 of 30, 7 1/16 x 5 3/8 x 8 1/16 in. (18 x 13.6 x 20.5 cm) Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd, Courtesy White Cube / Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2012.
2.1. Wei Guangqing, Suicide Project , 1988, performance, Wuhan, Courtesy of the artist.
2.2. Wei Guangqing, Suicide Project , February 1989, installation and performance, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, Courtesy of the artist.
2.3. Zhang Peili and Geng Jianyi, Wrapping Series I: King and Queen , 1987, performance, Courtesy of the artists.
2.4. Lanzhou Art Army, Funeral/Burial , December 1992 - January 1993, performance, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, Courtesy of Yang Zhichao.
2.5. Neo-History Group, Sterilisation , 1992, performance, Guangzhou, and Wuhan, Courtesy of the artists.
2.6. The SHS Group, Big Glass, Paradise in a Dream , 22 October 1993, performance, Huangshi Cultural Palace, Hubei Province, Courtesy of the artists.
2.7. The Gao Brothers, Sense of Space , 2000, performance photograph, Courtesy of the artists.
2.8. Huang Yan, Lying on the Rail, Suicide / Murder News , 14 March 1996, mail art, Jinan, Shandong Province, Courtesy of the artist.
2.9. Zhu Gang, Obituary , December 1999, installation, Chengdu, Courtesy of the artist.
2.10. Zhou Bin, A Traffic Accident Scene , 1999, performance photograph, Chengdu, Courtesy of the artist.
2.11. Xing Danwen, Urban Fiction, Image 0 , 2004, 170 x 241.8 cm, Courtesy of the artist.
2.12. Yasumasa Morimura, A Requiem: MISHIMA, 1970.11.25 - 2006.4.6, Type C-print, 150 x 120cm, 2006, Courtesy of the artist and Yoshiko Isshiki Office, Tokyo.
2.13. Fu Baoshi, Qu Yuan , 1953, ink and colour on paper, 61.6 x 88.3 cm, family collection, Courtesy of the artist s family.
2.14. Wang Youshen, Before and After Grandmother Passed Away , 1989-1995, photography, Courtesy of the artist.
2.15. Bill Viola, Nantes Triptych , 1992, Video/sound installation, 4.6 x 9.7 x 16.8 m, Three channels of color front and rear video projection, in triptych form; central panel of scrim material mounted in front of an empty enclosed room, adjoining wing panels of rear screen material; amplified stereo sound; two channels of amplified mono sound, Courtesy of Bill Viola Studio.
2.16. Song Yongping, My Parents , 1999-2001, photography, Courtesy of the artist.
3.1. Zhang Peili, Document of Hygiene No. 3 , 1991, performance, Hangzhou, Courtesy of the artist.
3.2. Yang Zhenzhong, 922 Rice Corns, 2000, video, 8 min, Courtesy of the artist.
3.3. Yang Zhenzhong, Happy Family , 1995, photography, Courtesy of the artist.
3.4. Dai Guangyu , Incontinence, 2005, performance, Tokyo Art Project Gallery, 798 Art District, Images taken by the author, Courtesy of the artist.
3.5. Wang Jin, To Marry a Mule , 28 July 1995, performance, Guangying Village, Chaoyang District, Beijing, Courtesy of the artist.
3.6. Wang Jin, Quick Stir Frying RMB , 1995, performance, Jianxi Hotel, Xicheng District, Beijing, Courtesy of the artist.
3.7. Wang Jin, Ice 96, Central China , 1996, performance, Henan, Courtesy of the artist.
3.8. Wang Chuyu, Pigeon Dinner , 11 April 1999, performance, Mangfeng Bar, Beijing, Courtesy of the artist.
3.9. Sun Yuan and Xiao Yu, Herdsman , 1998, installation and performance, the Mausoleum of Ming Emperors, Beijing, Courtesy of the artists.
3.10. Xu Zhen, But I Don t Need Anything (I m Not A