Ai Weiwei
MAO : Land Reform (2)
On 23, Nov 2015 | In b) MAO works | By foster eastman
Mao promised land, and he delivered. However, this was very unfortunate for the Landlords.
By 1958, Mao took back the land and collectives were created… leading to one of the worst self-induced famines ever recorded in history. Approximately 30 million citizens starved during The Great Leap Forward 1958-1961.
MAO : 1989
On 23, Nov 2015 | In b) MAO works | By foster eastman
1972 Porcelain busts of Chairman Mao busts were filled with red acrylic paint and detonated onto the canvases to reflect the violence that occurred in Tiananmen Square in 1989
MAO : New China / Jesus
On 23, Nov 2015 | In b) MAO works | By foster eastman
The goal of the Red Guards was to destroy the 4 olds… habits, ideas, customs, and culture. This piece represents the crucifying of Old China (Jesus) in order to create or resurrect a new China. This image is mounted onto pages of the New Testament with images of Chairman Mao representing the new god.
Also note the family registry. Geneology records were an important tradition in China. Many of these were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.
MAO : Remembering Norman Bethune
On 23, Nov 2015 | In b) MAO works | By foster eastman
The Canadian Doctor Norman Bethune worked for many years giving medical treatment to wounded red army soldiers.
MAO : Building China
On 23, Nov 2015 | In b) MAO works | By foster eastman
An image of a 12 year old child pulling a plow is transferred onto images of China under massive industrialization. All technology was paid for by food products sent to Russia.
MAO : Violence is Justified
On 23, Nov 2015 | In b) MAO works | By foster eastman
An original banner from the Cultural Revolution is cut and mounted onto panels of images of young soldiers in training.
MAO : white rabbit – red rabbit
On 23, Nov 2015 | In b) MAO works | By foster eastman
‘Chairman Mao’s Vision Radiates Brightly Forever’
This verse is a lyric taken from a revolutionary opera made out of white rabbit candies from the 1960s. During collectivization, many children raised in day cares would sometimes learn Chairman Mao’s name before they knew their own name. By the age of 4, children participated in revolutionary skits, enrolled in the Children’s Brigade at 6, the Youth Corps at 12, and by 15, the Red Guards. Compared to North America, children were far from being educated about political science.
MAO : Revealing Jesus
On 23, Nov 2015 | In b) MAO works | By foster eastman
Priests would cover paintings with propaganda in order to disguise them so they wouldn’t be destroyed.
MAO : Dalai Lama and Mao
On 23, Nov 2015 | In b) MAO works | By foster eastman
Two images of the Dalai Lama, the younger when he went into exile in 1959 and a current photo transferred onto old testament pages of Foster’s grandfather’s (Foster Eastman) bible.
Chairman Mao with Red Guards from an original banner from the Cultural Revolution.