Zhang Xiaogang’s 1993 Creation Bloodline via ArtDaily
To say the very least, this image struck me. Read more about it on ArtDaily.com.
Sunday Morning Coffee (Beer Tasting)
Robert Mapplethorpe’s Derrick Cross, 1983
Betsy, I though you would enjoy this artist’s work!
Liumang Yan is speaking up for sex workers in China, she is also one of the women in One Tiger Eight Breasts with Ai Weiwei.
More on affordable art!
This article is about scandalous muses. I would have added Robert Mapplethorpe’s models to the list. If you are interested in Mapplethorpe and his muses you should read two chapters by Kobena Mercer on Mapplethorpe’s work. To summarize briefly, in the first chapter Mercer is quite angry about the objectification of the models in the photographs. A few years later he wrote a second article revisiting his initial reaction and accepting the work.
“What is ahead for contemporary Asian art, 2012, and beyond?” Part II.
Yesterday I went to a great pannel at SAIC called “Getting on the Map.” Sharon Louden moderated a conversation with Carron Little, Mark Jeffery, Judd Morrissey, and David Parker.
There is a horse hanging from the ceiling at the Guggenheim in New York!
Sunday Morning Coffee (Hot Lemon Water)
From Miru Kim’s The Pig That Therefor I Am
Miru Kim’s pigs got sick at Art Basel on Huffington Post.
Updates on Ai Weiwei–Art21, a bit about his alleged tax evasion, the sunflower seeds are coming to New York!
Is the postal rendition of year of the dragon too “monstrous”?
Genderbread Person. I originally found it here.
Do you know about whats going on in Bosnia? This monument deserves its own post.
Take some time to learn a bit about North Korea.
This is a great new tumblr. Nepotism? No, it is simply lovely.
Toilet Tourism
I developed a funny habit this summer of taking picture of bathrooms. I can’t help it, I find them amusing. If you ask, my sister will tell you a story about visiting a gallery space in Richmond, VA. I was on the look out for art and ended up convinced the bathroom was not actually a bathroom but an installation piece. Enjoy–I did.
The sign above is outside of the restroom in the train station in Seoul. *Fun fact: in many restrooms in Korea each stall has an “etiquette bell” which is the sound of rushing water.
This lovely restroom was in a gallery/restaurant in Itaewon.
Below is from a lovely coffee shop in Mokpo!
Last but not least, the restroom at a gallery in Beijing.
Body Project Live!
Chad and I are bouncing around the U.S. right now, seeing friends get married, going to a bridal shower (just me), and then celebrating our first anniversary (just us). For the time being I thought you would enjoy these two clips my friends from Red Gate Residency took while I was working the night crowd in Beijing while doing the Body Project. Thank you, Rayana Savrosa and Nick Curley! Click on their names and check out their work!
Videos: Body Cards, Pizza Boys & Body Cards, Pizza Boys 2
If you haven’t had the chance to participate or if you would like to participate again click here.
Chaochangdi
Hello, all! I have been back in the States for about a week. The jet lag is gone and I’m ready to catch you up on the adventures and art. My time in China and South Korea was incredible to say the least–I learned a lot and met amazing people.
This post is long over due. Chad and I visited Chaochangdi almost a month ago. You might remember our visit from this picture. This post is a small collection of artwork we saw at Three Shadows Gallery which was designed by Ai Weiwei. The space was great and we really enjoyed the artwork in it. The whole time we were there I couldn’t stop thinking about our close friend and talented photographer, Zane Davis.
The work above captured my attention immediately. It is Chen Zhe’s series Body / Wound Series created from 2008-2010. The abstraction of the body is wonderful. Upon immediate approach I was not clear on the subject matter. As I stood infront of the works I began picking out different parts. I love bodies as puzzles that can be taken apart, mixed and put back together. Below is a different view, I apologize for the glare.
The next grouping is by the same artist. For this work she won the 2011 Three Shadows Photography Award.
When I visit an art space I have to decide how I will approach the artwork. Sometimes I read about the artist and the work before I look at the pieces. This method gives an immediate context and in many ways makes the art more accessible. My preferred method, which is a bit more challenging at times, is to enter a work of art through my own raw, uninfluenced interpretation. With the piece above I did so. I thought of the way my brain feels after being online bumming around the internet for a long time. My brain bounced around, I couldn’t settle on an image. I barely noticed the sliced arm in the center.
Yang Nannan created the photographs above. I think the series is called The Other Side Series but my notes are unclear. Yang photographs cross-dressers and transexuals. On the title card the artist says, “The Other Side is my exploration into the things behind mainstream society…I hope that these works will allow people to reexamine respect and violation, normal and abnormal, and moral and immoral. I want to give the audience a new understanding of human nature, emotions, desires, instincts, and social roles.”
The last photo I took of Chad at Platform China in honor of his employer, Groupon, who is very generous with many, many things including Vitamin Water.
“I lovE u”
Just a couple of hours ago Chad left for the States. Fortunately, I have a full few days ahead. Today I am meeting with artist Seo Ji Yeon and her friend to chat about gender and sexuality in contemporary Korean art. Later on I will be attending a gallery opening at Space 15th with Julia Marsh. Julia has been my host in South Korea and I can’t tell you enough about how wonderful she is.
The photo above is my favorite taken of Chad while he was visiting me in China and South Korea. The day my parents left for the States Chad and I visited Chaochangdi, an arts village outside of Beijing. This area is where Ai Weiwei is based. Three Shadows and Platform China are where we spent the majority of our time. More on those someday soon!
Accidental Installation
Last night a few Red Gate Residency artists had an exhibition in Bei Gao. My wonderful next-door neighbors, Britt Salt and Jon Hewitt hosted an exhibition in their space. Check out on of their recent collaborative projects here. They invited me to open my doors as well. Lisa Anderson, another resident in Bei Gao, showed some of her work in my studio. It was a truly wonderful night that I will blog about more. I also plan to introduce you to my fellow residents at some point.
Above is my Accidental Installation. Along with working on the Body Project I have been reacquainting myself with painting. I have 5 paintings finished and three were up last night. The one above is of a mangosteen. It fit well in my kitchen area on the little hutch and I had a bowl with a pear in it that I was painting. Put together with a spot light and a kitschy domestic scene was born!
Thank you to everyone, especially my Chad, for making Saturday such a wonderful event!
Summer Palace
On Friday Chad, Mom, and Dad and I ventured to the Summer Palace. It was a beautiful place and we visited on a cool and clear day. This post has some pictures that Chad and I took together. Enjoy!
Our day consisted mostly of walking around looking at different sites but we also managed to taste test the local fare, take a boat ride across the lake, have some photo shoots with other toursits, and get our names painted.
A fantastic photograph taken by Chad with the main part of the palace in the background.
Mom and Dad are amazing (and in the air RIGHT NOW!) :)
My favorite camera man!
Ai Weiwei Released
I woke up this morning to an email stating that Ai Weiwei was released from 81 days of detainment. He is now a 10 minute can ride from where i am staying in Beijing! Obviously, many news sources have covered the story. Below is a screen shot of a portion of the email i received from Alison Klayman and Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry. Please check out the links!
Links:
New York Times: Ai Weiwei, DIssident Artist is Released
Huffington Post: Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei Released from Chinese Prison (VIDEO)
Los Angeles Times: China frees artist Ai Weiwei on bail