venice art biennale: miao xiaochun at the chinese pavilion image © designboom 

 

 

 

 

the china pavilion at the 55th international art exhibition in venice explores the theme of ‘transfiguration’, with particular focus on bridging the gap between life and art, the transformation of life to art, of the commonplace to artworks or art performance, of non-art to art. seven chinese artists explore this notion of change through different mediums and subjects–extending from heavenly perspectives.

 

through his digital art practice, miao xiaochun  is committed to re-creating our visual knowledge, overlapping depictions of familiar sacred images from art history (noah’s ark, the last judgement, the pieta etc.) with intercultural elements and references to develop his transfigured art world, dealing with our conception of religious works in the context of contemporary existence..

 

 

venice art biennale: miao xiaochun at the chinese pavilion - 2the last judgement in cyberspace

image © designboom

 

 

 

 

‘the last judgement in cyberspace’ is the chinese artist’s interpretation of michaelangelo’s ‘the last judgement’ (1536-1541) on the ceiling of the sistine chapel in rome, whereby miao has reproduced the expressive imagery of the original detailed and sacred work, as a mere greyscale depiction, digital and devoid of any expressive personality. a commentary on how things are portrayed in mainstream media, which has caused us to become desensitized to our surroundings.

 

 

venice art biennale: miao xiaochun at the chinese pavilion - 3‘disillusion’ projected on the wall of the chinese pavilion

image © designboom 

 

 

 

venice art biennale: miao xiaochun at the chinese pavilion - 4‘disillusion’ depicts sacred imagery from noah’s ark, to the pieta

 

 

 video © designboom

 

venice art biennale: miao xiaochun at the chinese pavilion - 5installation view of miao xiaochun’s work at the chinese pavilion image © designboom

 

 

 

venice art biennale: miao xiaochun at the chinese pavilion - 6

image © designboom

 

 

video © designboom

 

 

venice art biennale: miao xiaochun at the chinese pavilion - 7‘out of notion – public enemy’, 2012 is based on the crucifixion of st. peter who was hung upside downoil on canvas400 x 400 cmimage © designboom 

 

 

 

venice art biennale: miao xiaochun at the chinese pavilion - 8detail of out of notion – public enemyimage © designboom

 

 

venice art biennale: miao xiaochun at the chinese pavilion - 9miao xiaochunportrait © designboom

 

 

venice art biennale: miao xiaochun at the chinese pavilion - 10samsara

 

 

 

china pavilion credits:

supporter: ministry of culture of the people’s republic of chinacommissioner: china arts & entertainment group (caeg)organizer: china international exhibition company

curator: wang chunchenparticipants: he yunchang, hu yaolin, miao xiaochun, shu yong, tong hongsheng, wang qingsong, zhang xiaotao