Title: “More China Than You # 9”［我比你中国］
Performance
“The Realm in the Mirror, the Vision out of Image”, Suzhou Jinji Lake Art Museum, SuZhou, China
9 May 2013 – 18 August 2013
The presentation of "More China Than You" had been very well received in China. However my ambivalent use of texts based on oft used words and phrases in political speech openly raised some doubt or suspicion as the changing tides seemed to affectively changed our reading of the same words as China march in step with global capitalism. My pick of these same words had become more awkward as the unabated use of the words loses their original meanings, or became more difficult to use without some need of explanation as if a sober cry to put them on trial and a call for readdressing them in discussion.
In my earlier manifestations of the series, the difference of being an ethnic Chinese born outside of China, in post-colonial Singapore one asked to clarify the mistaken identity and dispel such stereo-typing of identities also accentuates one's recognition of selfhood of Singaporean identity as one separate from that of China.
Enacting the same performance over the interactive project of "Ping Pong Go Round" had also changed its significance somewhat. As I had used the same 11 slogans again, and ended instead by singing a song adapted from Thai artist, Vassan Sitthiket, the words in Chinese roughly translated: "I am guilty I am born in China, I am guilty I am born in Singapore, i am guilty i am born in .... " it goes on with all the countries in the world.
“More China Than You # 9”［我比你中国］
Performance
“The Realm in the Mirror, the Vision out of Image”, Suzhou Jinji Lake Art Museum, SuZhou, China
9 May 2013 – 18 August 2013
The presentation of "More China Than You" had been very well received in China. However my ambivalent use of texts based on oft used words and phrases in political speech openly raised some doubt or suspicion as the changing tides seemed to affectively changed our reading of the same words as China march in step with global capitalism. My pick of these same words had become more awkward as the unabated use of the words loses their original meanings, or became more difficult to use without some need of explanation as if a sober cry to put them on trial and a call for readdressing them in discussion.
In my earlier manifestations of the series, the difference of being an ethnic Chinese born outside of China, in post-colonial Singapore one asked to clarify the mistaken identity and dispel such stereo-typing of identities also accentuates one's recognition of selfhood of Singaporean identity as one separate from that of China.
Enacting the same performance over the interactive project of "Ping Pong Go Round" had also changed its significance somewhat. As I had used the same 11 slogans again, and ended instead by singing a song adapted from Thai artist, Vassan Sitthiket, the words in Chinese roughly translated: "I am guilty I am born in China, I am guilty I am born in Singapore, i am guilty i am born in .... " it goes on with all the countries in the world.
“More China Than You # 9”［我比你中国］