I had been impressed and inspired by Yue Minjun’s canvases and produced a series of paintings - Rhythm and Cycle in Cambridge. Owing to the excitement of studying his paintings, today I just visited Beyond Limits sculpture exhibition in Chatsworth House to find out whether his sculpture was as much fun.
① Hears no evil
' Contemporary Terracotta Warriors ' The 25 identical warriors by Chinese Contemporary Artist Yue Minjun (岳敏君) situated on the Cascade in Chatsworth House during the exhibiting period. My first impression is that they are like the Wise Monkey who hears no evil.
' Contemporary Terracotta Warriors ' The 25 identical warriors by Chinese Contemporary Artist Yue Minjun (岳敏君) situated on the Cascade in Chatsworth House during the exhibiting period. My first impression is that they are like the Wise Monkey who hears no evil.
② Workman's vest, Pair of trousers & Bare Foot (From Left to right)
The clothing that these “warriors” are wearing suggested to me that they might represent the contemporary Chinese workers – the modern equivalent of the terracotta warriors – who are forging the future of China.
③ Sweat or Tears?
This photographer used shallow depth of field to focus on the warrior in the foreground, emphasizing the angle of the open mouth and the way the curve the nose is reflected by the curve of the side of the hand: The water droplets are beautiful – but are they also suggest sweat or tears ? (Photo Via Sjs.Sheffield)
④ Hierarchy
A hierarchy – one – the foreman? – is elevated above the others. They are identical and are arranged in a particular formation. I was amazed by this photographer who was able to get into the temple to capture the “foreman’s view” of the warriors from the top of the cascade. (Photo Via Jonathan Photography)
⑤ Made of bronze
When I compared the pattern of light and shape created by the verdigris patina with the marble statues nearby, the bronze seemed the ideal material for representing the characteristics of manual workers in the dirty conditions of factories – their toughness and stamina.
⑥ Value of Art
What is the value of the entire set of warriors without the cascade with water flowing over them? I am curious about what setting the buyer of these sculptures will put them in to present the atmosphere and meaning of the artwork.
► Let's Yell
Also, I saw a young boy covered his own ears in imitation of the sculptures and YELL. It occurred to me that this might be what the statues are doing. Are they covering their ears to protect themselves from the sound of machinery or to refuse to listen to the Chinese foreman?
Beyond Limits sculpture exhibition 2010 at Chatsworth House (13 September - 31 October, 2010)
