The Chinese Artist Xu Bing - Coursework Example

Chinese Artist Xu Bing Name: Unit: Professor: Date of Submission: Xu Bing Artist Caruso, & Young, (2013) Xu Bing is a pioneering artist in contemporary art. This thesis supports that Xu Bing, has done tremendous art work in contemporary world though faced with various challenges. The artist is well known for creating poignant, powerful, and mixed-media installation where he mixes systems of languages and brings out a clear perception and pending expectations. Born in 1955 in Chongqing, Xu Bing however grew up in Beijing. Vainker, (2013) it is in Zhejiang province in Wenling that he traces his family roots. To the end of Cultural Revolution in 1975 he relocated for two years to the countryside. Caruso, & Young, (2013) in 1977 he relocated back to Beijing where he enrolled at the (CAFA) Central Academy of Fine Arts here he joined the department of printmaking and completed his bachelor degree and became an instructor in CAFA. He received masters in fine arts from the central academy of fine arts in 1987. Vainker, (2013) in the year 1989 his work was scrutinized by the Chinese government which was caused by the Tiananmen Square Protest of the same year. He then received very harsh criticism as he was perceived to be a Chinese government critique. This period was an influential period for him as through his work he would influence the people of china and great impacts in the country. The post-Tiananmen period experienced in china brought about artistic restrictions and led to building up of political pressure. Vainker, (2013) like many other contemporaries, in 1990 Xu Bing left china and moved to the United State where there were no political pressure and restrictions to expand his work. It is after this period that he has managed to venture in various art works. By doing this, he was an inspiration to people rising to be among the top influential artists. Vainker, (2013) He resided there until 2008 when he was appointed Beijing CAFA vice-President where he has been a professor advising the PHD students. Up to date he lives in New York and Beijing. Caruso, & Young, (2013) his first exhibition in U.S. was held in the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since then, Xu Bing has had solo exhibitions around the world including the New York new museum of contemporary arts, The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery at Washington DC, National Gallery of Prague, the Joan Miro Foundation in Spain and the spencer museum of art in Kansas. Vainker, (2013) He has also exhibited in the 51st and 45th Venice biennales, the Johannesburg Biennales, the Biennales of Sydney including other exhibitions internationally. Vainker, (2013) as years have passed Xu Bing works have featured in the college and high school texts books worldwide for example ,Gardner’s “ Arts through the ages”, Abrahams “Art past- Art-present. According to Vainker, (2013) a publication by the Princeton University Press in 2006 about transformation of the arts world of Xu Bing reflecting his multidisciplinary studies was published. A graduate seminar titled “The Art of XuBing” was taught by Professor Robert Harrist who was the Chinese Art Columbia university chair. Wang, (2013)Xu Bing in 1999 was awarded a MacArthur fellowship for his great contribution to the society in the field of calligraphy and printmaking; he was awarded Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize in 2003, he won the wales international Visual Art price. Caruso, & Young, (2013) but a lifetime award for his achievement is in the use of language, texts, books which have impacted the art world and dialogue of the print in momentous ways. Wang, (2013) Columbia University offered Xu Bing a doctor of humane letters in 2010. Contemporary arts have been on the rising scale and it is impacting on peoples life’s largely. The contemporary artists in the field today have come up with different work of arts recognized and accepted, their work covers a wide field and effects, being both educative and entertaining and above all conserving the cultural practice while leading societies into modernization. Different works of Xu Bing Wang, (2013) being among the old and famous established contemporary artist, Xu Bing has done a lot in the work of arts. He has many publications which runs from the 1990s up to date. Caruso, & Young, (2013) his early works include, dramatic woodcuts like Bustling Village on the Water done in 1980- 1981 and Shattered Jade done in1977. After more training in printmaking he was able to create elaborate and large instillation pieces such as Ghost Pounding the Wall made in 1990 and Book from the Sky done in 1987. Iezzi,(2013)his installation pieces include a Book from the sky, Ghosts Pounding the wall, Background story, square word calligraphy, Phoenix project and later mediums. Wang, (2013)It is through his installations that he gained popularity and was able to influence and impact on the people and society as a whole. With the works he created themes, influences and impacts reorganized the fabrics of the Chinese language. Two of his works shall be discussed as the important elements of this study. Vainker, (2013) Firstly a Book from the Sky, features rows of books which are precisely laid out and hanging scrolls which are written in Chinese texts. Caruso, & Young, (2013)despite it being well laid out it challenges the way we approach language due to its unique nature that has been used to write the text on the paper. Iezzi (2013)The work was presented in1988 in Beijing; the elite show it as a very bold move for Xu Bing to introduce over 4000 characters into the Chinese language that had no meaning since they were not real Chinese characters. Iezzi, (2013) he tried to infuse meaning to his work by creating discomforts and confusion in the audience. The work was well accepted in china until 1989. He continued with his work has he explored how to challenge the natural cultural assumptions of language. The provoking nature enticed the western people and became a leading artist of the modern Chinese. Secondly, the phoenix project, Wang, (2013)it was after returning to Beijing in 2008 as the vice president of the central academy of fine arts that he was asked to form a sculpture of the world financial center as it was being developed in Beijing at that time. He constructed two large bird form sculptures which were largely out of the tools took from the site and construction debris. the larger sculpture is referred to as male called Feng that is 100 feet which was as per the phoenix Chinese tradition. Iezzi,(2013) the smaller sculpture is named Huang which is a female and has 90 feet. The sculptures took two years to construct rather than the planned four months period. The contractors by then said the sculptures did not meet their needs and expectations. Iezzi, (2013)the sculptures were displayed at Shanghai World Expo then in Today Art museum finally were taken to United States displayed in Massachusetts museum of contemporary arts then they were unveiled to the public in 2014 at the cathedral of Saint John the divine in New York where they will spend a year. In conclusion, Xu Bing has done tremendous art work in contemporary world though faced with various challenges. From the works of Xu Bing is clear that he has been of great importance to the society as his works have been accepted worldwide. His works have introduced modernization through challenging people’s perceptions and at the same time preserving the culture. The works being displayed in museum gives people educative lessons and are also used for leisure activities when people are free as they go to visit the museum. This has impacted the society positively. The impact of his works has contributed to the people and the students in the use of his works in high schools and colleges. In addition, is of great importance to upcoming and existing artists of this caliber should be encouraged and supported rather than criticized so as to develop the societies and conception of traditional thinking. References Caruso, D., & Young, H. (2013). Art Review:" Contemporary Chinese Artist Xu Bing: Rising Phoenix" at MASS MoCA. International Journal of Multicultural Education, 15(2). 22-45. Iezzi, A. (2013). Contemporary Chinese Calligraphy Between Tradition and Innovation. Journal of Literature and Art Studies, 3(3):158-179. Wang, P. (2013). Xu Bing and Contemporary Chinese Art: Cultural and Philosophical Reflections ed. by HsingyuanTsao and Roger T. Ames (review).Philosophy East and West, 63(3), 446-448. Vainker, S. J. (2013). Landscape/Landscript: Nature as Language in the Art of Xu Bing. Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology. Read More