Art redefined: The accumulation of a lifetime, and a lifetime's worth of stuff.

Photo: Todd Heisler/New York Times

This morning over breakfast, I was immediately drawn to an article in today's NY Times," The Collected Ingredients of a Beijing Life " by Holland Carter. The article is about the Chinese artist Song Dong, and his wonderful installation at MoMa entitled "Waste Not."  Mr. Song has taken the entire contents of the house of his mother, Zhao Xiangyuan, and arranged them in the museum's atrium, along with a piece of the house itself. Presented in sorted piles of like objects, the art is a testament to the idea of a life defined by the possessions one accumulates and hoards. 

Photo: Todd Heisler/New York Times

It is no secret from my blog post that I consider love, creativity, art and objects ( both ordinary and exceptional) to be be the stuff that life is made of. Essentially, I think who we are as humans is defined by  how we love, how we create, and what we choose to collect and surround ourselves with. My grandmother was someone who loved and spoiled and fed me. But she was also the person who collected an enormous number of knick knacks and figurines; held on to every piece of clothing she ever owned; saved every plastic shopping bag and Cool Whip container she came across, and who was joined at the hip to her sewing machine. When I remember her, I always remember her in the context of these things. They were as much a part of who she was as the endless hugs and kisses and lasagna she bestowed upon me.

Photo: Todd Heisler/New York Times

So, I completely get the piece by Song Dong. For me, I do not think the installation is as grand a comment on Chinese society as it is a portrait of one person and that person's life. Politics, changing social structures and society may affect who we are and who we become. But, still, we are more a part of the world we create for ourselves than we are apart of the world at large. "Waste Not" is more than anything else a portrait of a son's mother and of her specific life. Mr. Song included EVERYTHING in this piece down to used tubes of toothpaste and empty plastic bottles. The effect in the photos in the NY Times slide show, is enormously powerful. Make sure to check it out. The artful arrangements of the like objects make little displays within the display.  This is an art piece that would make me want to take a lot of time. I long  to study, absorb, and thoroughly enjoy every single bit of it, right down to the last toothpaste tube. I hope I can get down to NY to see this exhibit in person as soon as possible. The show runs through September 21. 

Of course, I cannot help but wonder what would a similar piece look like if my son were to attempt to do the same? I think it might require a space like Madison Square Garden. And even then, it might not fit. 

Comments

[Vivian]

I'm afraid of what the exhibit of my house would look like. Thanks for sharing this interesting article!

Hope you're enjoying your summer!

[Barbara]

The thought of our kids doing this is scary, isn't it? LOL!

The summer is flying by, and I have been busy working, but I also have managed to get more junk to add to the already giant overload of junk I have.

Hope your summer is a nice one, too!

[John]

Wow, that house exhibit or w/e you'd call it is weird, kind of amusing to find such "art" in a museum. Then again, it's probably pretty unique.