Visual Art
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HOW CAN THESE THINGS BE PRODUCED SO CHEAPLY?
China syndrome
An exhibition of work by seven emerging Chinese artists forces Liz Shannon to rethink her view of contemporary China
hina has become something of a cause celebre
in contemporary art market circles. Tales
abound of international collectors swooping in to snap up entire bodies of work. leaving artists with empty studios and considerably enriched bank accounts. Whether this attention is entirely beneficial for the artists is debatable. however it is paving the way for a new generation of (‘hinese contemporary artists by providing them with opportunities to exhibit and create a dialogue with the West.
Asking for It: Everyday Neurosis in Chinese (‘rmtemporary Art is a case in point. (‘urated by Beijing-based (‘olin (‘hinnery and Pi Li. it presents work by seven emerging (‘hinese artists. (‘hinnery's curatorial statement asserts that the exhibition is designed to draw the audience into the artists‘ ‘personal universes‘. bypassing the (‘hina as presented in the media. that of an ancient culture. host of the upcoming ()Iympics. a last bastion of communism.
Accordingly. llu Xiaoyuan‘s ‘The Times ll’. a constructed ‘blanket' that hangs below the gallery’s skylight. is strictly personal. The textiles feature (‘hinese motifs. such as boggle-eyed goldfish and flowers. which appear factory embroidered. It is a lo- ft piece of work (the antithesis of a tightly constructed patchwork quilt) yet it is a depository of memories. having been stitched together from the artist‘s childhood linen and other personally significant pieces of fabric. Shi Qing‘s series of photographs show the artist dressed as an ancient warrior. albeit one wielding various kitchen implements attached to a pole. His poses evoke a melancholy sense of
ceremony. rather than confrontation. ironically noting the mundane nature of domestic life. A similarly
everyday theme is exhibited by (‘hu Yun's pile of
sunflower seed husks. representing wasted hours.
While the exhibition overwhelmingly succeeds in presenting the artists works as reflecting personal concerns and everyday lives. we must query whether this viewing strategy is always correct. ('hen Xiaoyun‘s video work. "Lash‘. features quick. flashing cuts employed to the sound of a cracking whip. The narrative is completely fractured. constructed of night— time images of the naked artist in a wood. a suburban street. a gas ring. a snake and fireworks. cumulatively inducing a sense of disturbance and threat. It’s hard not to ruminate on the (‘hinese government‘s curtailment of certain freedoms: what impact does this have on (‘hinese artists. and how does it affect the kind of work that they create“?
Kan Xuan‘s excellent video works also seem to question (‘hina‘s position. this time as a producer of goods for Western markets. The hypnotic video work ‘Two Yuan! Two Yuan!’ features a parade of items bought for two yuan (about 30p). l’unctuated by the shout of ‘l.iang Yuanl'. we are shown a variety of plastic bargains. How can these things be produced so cheaply? In this context. her other work. ‘(iarbage'. which consists of a close-up on a bag of domestic rubbish. with a hand rifling through it and picking out particular items to show us. seems completely apt.
Asking for It, Glasgow School of Art, until Sat 10 May 000
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THE BEST EXHIBITIONS
Alasdair Gray: Now and Then These never-before—seen drawings. originally conceived in the 19703 to accompany a series of Liz Lochhead‘s poems about a doomed love affair, serve as a timely reminder that Gray is one of the most important artists working in Scotland today. Sorcha Dal/as, Glasgow. until Sat 77 May
its Records Played Backwards Arcth amusing conceptual group show curated by Daniel Baumann. based on the idea of teenagers playing their records backwards to find hidden Satanic messages. Features work by Seth Price. William E Jones and Anne Collier, amongst others. See review. page 104. The Modern Institute. Glasgow, until Sat 10 May.
it: Try to Do Things We Can All Understand Last chance to catch this beautiful. occasionally uncomfortable first solo exhibition from London- based artist EJ Major; a series of film pieces, collages and manipulated images meditating on love. communication and the post-humanist ‘soul‘. Street Level, Glasgow, until Sat 10 May.
Torsten Lauschmann Shimmering. ephemeral light works, projections. sculptures. optical illusions and smaller. wall-mounted pieces at once dramatise and simplify the everyday. A deceptively small exhibition that manages somehow to take the viewer back to childhood and make them aware of how very, very far they've come. Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow, until Sun 25 May.
Lucy Skaer A solo exhibition of work by one of Scotland's most promising young artists, whose large-scale drawings, sculpture and film are beginning to earn her international attention and acclaim. Fruitmarket, Edinburgh, Sat 77 May-Sun 13 Jul.
8 22 May 2008 THE LIST 103