song dong: waste not exhibition at MoMA, NY

song dong: waste not exhibition at MoMA, NYimage by 16milesofstring

song dong ‘project 90’ at: MoMA, NY from: now – september 7, 2009

beijing-based artist song dong’s solo exhibit ‘project 90‘ at the museum of modern art in new york includes his installation ‘waste not’. the work consists of the complete contents of the artist’s mother’s home, amassed over fifty years during which the chinese concept of wu jin qi yong, or ‘waste not’, was a prerequisite for survival. the assembled materials, ranging from pots and basins to blankets, oil flasks, and legless dolls, form a miniature cityscape that viewers can navigate around and through.

image courtesy of eat me daily

image by todd heisler/the new york times

image by todd heisler/the new york times

image courtesy of eat me daily

image courtesy of eat me daily

‘dong’s mother zhao xiangyuan was born in china in 1938 and died in beijing in january 2009. for almost 60 years she lived in the city with her husband and two children in a tiny house crammed with domestic odds and ends – clothes, books, kitchen utensils, toiletries, school supplies, shopping bags, rice bowls, dolls – which were used, then recycled, then indiscriminately hoarded. now the entire cache, every odd button and ballpoint pen, is at MoMA, along with ms. zhao’s fridge and bed.’ – read the NYT article ‘the collected ingredients of a beijing life‘.