gun shape baby cradle image © designboom
shi jinsong’s work is currently part of ‘china – contemporary revival‘, an exhibition at the palazzo reale, milan, italy. on display is a selection of more than 180 art works including paintings, sculptures, installations and videos by 50 contemporary chinese artists. on show from december 11, 2009 to february 7, 2010.
details of gun shape baby cradle image © designboom
through his razor-sharp sculptures and related works, shi jinsong initiates a dialogue, at once menacing and ironic, between the forms of mythic chinese culture and modern day globalization. the here featured work is part of the series ‘na zha’, a sort of brand name for an outrageously unsafe line of baby products. meticulously assembled in stainless steel from intricate mechanical drawings, they include a deadly carriage; a sadistic cradle; a sinister walker; and a malicious, multi-part toy complete with needle-tipped pacifiers and dismembering abacus. baby boutique confronts its ‘shopper’ with a radically strange and seductive ‘product’, lethal luxury designed to reveal the forces that dominate our lives in unimaginable ways.
detail image © designboom
in the work ‘ne zha’ it appears in the disguise of being protective, consoling and decorative, but its details betray its true function of weapon. it indicates the highest degree of ambiguity in one’s temperament. it presents and represents. it invites and refuses.
gun shape baby cradle image © designboom
side view image © designboom
gun shape baby carriage image © designboom
gun shape baby carriage image © designboom
gun shape baby carriage image © designboom
gun shape baby walker image © designboom
gun shape baby walker image © designboom
detail of gun shape baby walker image © designboom
shi jinsong portrait © designboom
shi jinsong was born in danyang county, hubei province in 1969, he enrolled at the hubei academy of fine arts in 1994, majoring in sculpture and mastering a gamut of traditional techniques. under the influence of three powerful stimuli – radical socio-cultural change in china; a reading of foucault’s madness and civilization; and the birth of his first daughter – the artist began to investigate ideas of transformation and control. he lives and works in wuhan and beijing, china.
CHINESE ART (46)
Mar 27, 2018
Mar 15, 2015
Jun 04, 2014
May 28, 2014
Jan 29, 2014SHI JINSONG (2)
Dec 13, 2009PRODUCT LIBRARY
Jan 12, 2021
Jan 12, 2021
Jan 05, 2021
Dec 31, 2020
lee b Dec 19, 2009 drob Dec 19, 2009 blondieMom Dec 18, 2009 blub Dec 18, 2009 erika Dec 18, 2009 htp Dec 18, 2009 theVlad Dec 17, 2009 Qtden Dec 17, 2009 ScottyB Dec 15, 2009
more commentsFire-power is Ok but defensive armor and wheel traction seems lacking.
Totally awesome- Needs an ammo belt running to a can though.
this one lacks practicality. i need the guns to be in working condition to protect my baby and fend off foes. Optional grenade launcher and a pre-installed heart beat sensor would be a major plus when out traveling.
Looks like “saw-equipment”
crazy.crazy.crazy…uuuuhhhhh
Does need a few ammo boxes under the carriage to carry formula. Most excellent design.
In case somebody thought this is real, PLEASE try to find your thinking hat, cus you LOST IT! This is an exelent artistic coment of the root of violent age and social anger worldwide.. The fact that we are being exposed to violence since our young age. At least this is how I see it.. and also its prety cool looking. Very god design, reminds me somewhat of Giger.. But more contemporary.. I would like to see some other themes done in this style by Shi..
¡¡¡Qué gilipollez!!!
Charmain Giuliani 12.11.09 :
“what kind of baby will raise in such thing
i feel like i have wasted time write this note”
^^^^—— This just in, you’re a retard! 😉