Abstract
This paper focuses on the Chinese artist Xu Bing’s artwork, “Book from the Sky”, which is related to the problem of confrontation with authority and the cultural significance of writing in Mao’s era, especially during the Cultural Revolution. This artwork is a changeable installation and a display of woodcut printmaking books with 4,000 pseudo-Chinese characters. Look further, however, a meticulously crafted challenge to the history, culture and unrest of the period from which the artist gathered his inspiration, is revealed; and to fully relate to the challenge the artwork poses, the viewers of the work are required to contest with the following three elements of its presentation. Firstly, the painstaking attention to detail is demonstrated in the process of creating and displaying the artwork. The main approach is the combination between the “real” book formation and the “fake” written language. Secondly, Xu’s thoughts and methods of making pseudo characters and binding books create nonsensical language, which challenges the prescribed cultural power and reflects the sacred religious/cultural significance of Chinese characters. Last but not least, the inspirations behind Xu Bing’s printmaking practice with Chinese characters, reflect his attitude toward counter-authority and working with objective nature, and art for the people. To conclude, a natural affinity for traditional Chinese culture is expressed in this work, while a rebellious, mocking stance is taken to deconstruct and restructure Chinese characters in an attempt to break free from the myth of character creation – the official power recognition and the framework of traditional cultural bondage.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
The Arts in Social, Political, and Community Life
KEYWORDS
ART HISTORY, CHINESE CHARACTERS, COMTERPORY ART, CULTURAL REVOLUTION, COUNTER-AUTHORITY
