prune nourry’s terracotta daughters reflect chinese gender bias

reflecting on gender preference in china, the sociological circumstance of parents wishing to having a son, french artist prune nourry has created an army of life-sized terracotta girls, representing the hardships for young women within chinese families. ‘terracotta daughters’ draws reference from local culture through the application of the traditional symbol and craft of ancient terracotta soldiers — chinese artifacts that date back to 210 BC. commencing the project, nourry met and photographed eight orphaned chinese girls. through a collaboration with local xi’an artisans, the portraits were used as models for the first set of sculptures completed. the craftsmen then used the molds interchangeably to create an additional 108 sculptures, whose facial expressions and form are each individually personalized, making every clay daughter completely unique.

terracotta daughters exhibition
magda danysz gallery, shanghai, september 2013
photograph by prune nourry / courtesy of galerie magda danysz

the standing army, along with bronzes, plaster molds, videos and photographs derived from the project, are exhibiting at magda danysz gallery, shanghai until october 26th, 2013. with the idea of community in mind, nourry works closely with the non-profit organization ‘the children of madaifu’ to support the education of the young girls whose original portraits influenced the project. each collector who acquires one of the eight unique original terracotta sculptures supports the effort, and also provides 3 years of the schooling for the little girl depicted in the artwork.

terracotta daughters exhibition
magda danysz gallery, shanghai, september 2013
photograph by prune nourry / courtesy of galerie magda danysz

terracotta daughters exhibition
magda danysz gallery, shanghai, september 2013
photograph by prune nourry 

terracotta daughters exhibition
magda danysz gallery, shanghai, september 2013
photograph by prune nourry / courtesy of galerie magda danysz 

terracotta daughters exhibition
magda danysz gallery, shanghai, september 2013
photograph by prune nourry 

terracotta daughters exhibition
magda danysz gallery, shanghai, september 2013
photograph by prune nourry / courtesy of galerie magda danysz

(left) terracotta daughter #7, 2013 (right) terracotta daughter #5, 2013
terracotta, 150 cm
photographs by anne-gloria lefevre

(left) terracotta daughter #1, 2013 (right) terracotta daughter #6, 2013
terracotta, 150 cm
photographs by anne-gloria lefevre

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