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Realism
2011
Installation view, Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing, 2011
This is a sculpture and installation combined with a performance. The sculpture, created using the techniques of socialist realism, drew inspiration from Zephyr (1577) by Pietro Francavilla (Victoria and Albert Museum). It here becomes one part of a juxtaposition of two vastly different artistic styles. During the performance, Yan Xing moved around the sculpture while singing the enchanting tunes of Teresa Teng (1953–1995). Simultaneously, actors held André Breton's Surrealist Manifesto (1924, Chinese version 2010) and discussed Yan Xing's annotations to the text. Occasionally they would pose questions to the audience to test the validity of these annotations. During breaks in his singing, Yan Xing shared his views on the artistic style of the sculpture.
In this work, Yan Xing appropriated classical art history to mock the realist style that had developed in the shadow of politics. Furthermore, through references to popular culture from the late 20th century, he ironically diminished both the political nature and the solemnity of monumental art.