Xu Bing leads lecture on exploring language
Politically active artist writing novel ‘Book From the Ground’ with universal language
Posted on February 18, 2008
Artist Xu Bing took the stage in Memorial Hall auditorium Thursday night to discuss his latest exhibition, “Picturing Equality: Xu Bing’s New Ways of Seeing,” currently on display at JMU’s Sawhill Gallery.
Bing is best known in contemporary art circles for his manipulation of typography as well as his politically charged installation pieces, Bing’s visit. His visit was originally conceived by school of art and art history professor and institute for visual studies director David Ehrenpreis.
The artist began the night by discussing his earlier works and their significance to his experience as a Chinese immigrant who fled Mao’s Cultural Revolution for friendlier American shores. For instance, Bing’s Tobacco project, which was a cigarette pack branded with the motto “Even Communists are free to smoke,” takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the political unrest that cultivated Bing’s artistic agenda.
Bing, who has recently returned to his native China to take up the vice presidential position at China Central Academy of Fine Arts, is currently working on an ambitious project, to write a book using a universal language. Book From the Ground is composed entirely of symbols, taken from modern life and woven together to create cross-cultural meaning. It is a counterpart to Bing’s Book From the Sky, an installation piece that involved giant scrolls hanging from the ceiling and massive books layering the floor, all inscribed in a nonsensical language resembling Chinese script. Whereas Book From the Sky attempted to show the fallibility of language to communicate meaning, Bing looks to break down language barriers with Book From the Ground.
Another of his projects, “Where does the dust collect itself?” used dust from the 9/11 site in an installation piece. It won the inaugural Artes Mundi prize in Wales.
Bing’s most recent works involve typography, specifically square-word calligraphy. There was an audible hum of appreciation when the audience realized that Bing’s traditional-looking calligraphy actually spelled out in English, “Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep.” Another recurrent theme of his work is creating new meaning out of discarded materials.
“I don’t collect art, but I like collecting some materials that have special meaning,” Bing said. He has collected symbols and signs from airports, which he describes as “small villages,” to compile the alphabet for Book From the Ground.
The night ended with a question and answer session allowing students to better acquaint themselves with the artist. Xu Bing’s exhibition runs until Feb. 26 and features sample woodcarvings as well as an innovative chat program that translates English text into the symbol language that makes up Book From the Ground.
For more information, visit xubing.com.
