Back to photostream

“Liu Jianhua 刘建华 (劉建華): Painted Sculpture Series 彩塑系列 - Play No. 16, 2003-2006 (porcelain 陶瓷)” / Beijing Commune 北京公社 / Art Basel Hong Kong 2013 / SML.20130523.6D.13948

A woman in Chinese traditional dress 旗袍 Qipao lies in a bed of colorful flowers served in a highly decorated dinner plate fitting for a banquet. She is headless and armless except with her legs extending out in a highly sexualised pose. She is without identity, and she does not appear to have a choice but to lie there for all to feast on.

 

This ceramic / porcelain sculpture by Chinese artist Liu Jianhua 刘建华 (劉建華) may be funny at first, but is a social commentary about the anonymous and exploitable exoticism once associated with China in the West.

 

The imagery of the limbless sends a shock down my memory lane, as it reminds me of one of ancient China’s most torturous punishment: removing every limb from a person and stick them onto a vase as a permanent fixture of shame. And for this commentary it is both brilliant and depressing.

 

Before Liu Jianhu went to study sculpture in art school, he spent many years working at porcelain factories in Jingdezhen (景德镇市 景德鎮市). Jingdezhen was known to be the finest city for porcelain / china production since the Song Dynasty (宋朝), and it is no doubt from his years of working which allowed the artists to excel in producing such exquisite craftsmanship.

 

Liu Jianhua 刘建华 (劉建華)

Painted Sculpture Series 彩塑系列 - Play No. 16

porcelain

72.3 x 72.3 x 23.6 cm

2003-2009

 

Beijing Commune

 

# Liu Jianhua 刘建华 (劉建華)

b. 1962 in Ji’an, Jiangxi Province, China

生于中国江西省吉安

生於中國江西省吉安

www.artspeakchina.org/mediawiki/Liu_Jianhua_刘建华

 

# Beijing Commune 北京公社

 

Founded in 2004, Beijing Commune is located in the 798 Art Zone, Beijing. Its initial programs were mainly group shows exploring various currents in contemporary art, while now it focuses primarily on solo shows to carry on its in-depth research. Beginning with a core list of established artists, the gallery has maintained a sharp awareness of developments in the community and has responded by introducing young artists and new topics of discussion into the program.

 

P.O. Box 8503, 798 Art Zone, No. 4 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District

Beijing 100015

China

 

www.beijingcommune.com/

 

# SML Data

+ Date: 2013-05-23T16:27:44+0800

+ Dimensions: 5472 x 3648

+ Exposure: 1/30 sec at f/8.0

+ Focal Length: 19mm

+ ISO: 1000

+ Camera: Canon EOS 6D

+ Lens: Canon EF 17-40 f/4L USM

+ GPS: 22°16'59" N 114°10'22" E

+ Location: 香港會議展覽中心 Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC)

+ Workflow: Lightroom 4

+ Serial: SML.20130523.6D.13948

+ Series: 新聞攝影 Photojournalism, SML Fine Art, Art Basel Hong Kong 2013

 

# Media Licensing

Creative Commons (CCBY) See-ming Lee 李思明 / SML Photography / SML Universe Limited

 

“Liu Jianhua 刘建华 (劉建華): Painted Sculpture Series 彩塑系列 - Play No. 16, 2003-2006 (porcelain 陶瓷)” / Beijing Commune 北京公社 / Art Basel Hong Kong 2013 / SML.20130523.6D.13948

/ #Photojournalism #CreativeCommons #CCBY #SMLPhotography #Crazyisgood #SMLUniverse #SMLFineArt #SMLProjects

/ #中國 #中国 #China #香港 #HongKong #攝影 #摄影 #photography #Art #FineArt #ArtBasel #ABHK #LiuJianhua #刘建华 #BeijingCommune #北京公社 #Sculpture #WTF #Porcelain

 

www.flickr.com/photos/seeminglee/8900014203/

29,068 views
4 faves
3 comments
Uploaded on May 31, 2013
Taken on May 23, 2013