More China Than You［我比你中国］
As an ethnic Chinese born outside of China, in post-colonial Singapore one is often mistaken for being from China and face various stereo-typing of identity. This stereotyping is also apparent when meeting Chinese from mainland China who have various expectations of us such as the ability to speak fluently, perfect Chinese or Mandarin language instead of other languages or unfamiliarity with traditions. My past works such as the “Journey of a yellow man” and “Neo-Baba” series had confronted such issues as well as raising the complexity of identity politics in the age of post-colonialism, globalization and multi-culturalism. Since the founding of the present state of modern China there had been rapid and volatile changes. As Singapore had over the years of consistent progress and development gained a confidence of its own national identity, it is being dazed and astounded by the rise of China as a world economic and political power and today seemed likely to veer itself towards its historical roots as a majority of its population and leadership is of Chinese descent. The world at large too is mesmerized, as the global capitalistic world economy is just as anxious to embrace China into their ever-expanding markets as much as the largest nation state of communist ideals is willing to compromise themselves in order to enrich their less developed economy.
Artists are also attracted to work in China as the markets are growing and real estates and material costs are comparatively cheaper. What position should one take in the face of such geo-political contradictions? How can one reconcile one’s true identity and maintain the sovereignty of art at the risk of losing the purity of live performance art work without compromising into being a tool of the state or a product for the market?
Performed in series at:
Artists are also attracted to work in China as the markets are growing and real estates and material costs are comparatively cheaper. What position should one take in the face of such geo-political contradictions? How can one reconcile one’s true identity and maintain the sovereignty of art at the risk of losing the purity of live performance art work without compromising into being a tool of the state or a product for the market?
Performed in series at:
- 'Made in China', Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark, 27th MAY 2007
- Vital 07: essence of performance, Chinese Art Center, Manchester, England. 20th November 2007
- "Small East Co-prosperity Restaurant 08", Tokyo, Japan, 2008
- Performatica’08, Four Artists From Singapore, 26cc, Rome, Italy, 2008
- UP-ON First International Live Art Festival, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 2008
- 2nd Vital Chongqing International Live Art Festival, Chongqing, Sichuan, China, 2008
- Infr’Action -Festival International d’Art Performance, Paris, France. 2009
- Rasa Aksi-4 Artists From Singapore, Lublin, Poland, 2009
- “Guangzhou Live”, You You Gallery, Guangzhou, China, 2011