Xu Bing: Living Word
Xu Bing is probably the source of inspiration for the cover design of The Crimson Hour. His art form is distinctively recognizable:
Erickson, Britta. Words Without Meaning, Meaning Without Words: The Art of Xu Bing. (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2001). ISBN# 0-295-98143-1
My favorite piece is the Living Word project, which features a bird — or more precisely written symbols of bird – transforms from its "fossilized bone form" (written by nature?) to the standard English spelling. What’s curious, and particularly metaphorical, is the role of various Chinese written forms. The standard, simplified Chinese print font is the first step from the "fossilized bone form." The evolution of the bird goes backward in time — traditional Kai form, Li Shu form, Small Seal, leading to a pictorical form that everybody can recognizes. Without a warning it turns into "Li Shu New English" and moves toward the standard English orthography.
From fossilized bones to Chinese and then English, a path to break away from what? Has Xu Bing been reading Logan’s book?
Something else interesting:
"Monkeys Grasping for the Moon," a suspended sculpture designed specifically for the Sackler Gallery, was created by expatriate Chinese artist Xu Bing (b. 1955) as part of a solo exhibition of his work in October 2001 titled "Word Play: Contemporary Art by Xu Bing."
[Fairuse notice: the above 2 images of Xu Bing’s work are available at Xi Bing’s website via links provided above. The images are captured by screen snapshot while viewing the Flash-based web pages from Xu Bing. They represent a small portion of the artwork, and are presented here for commentary purpose only.] via abecedaria.
June 26th, 2005 at 11:59 am e
With regard to the Bird project, I would suggest continuing from English to Greek and possibly to the cuniform and then back to the bones. that would complete the circle.
The bird, as it’s written, is never free.
June 26th, 2005 at 12:05 pm e
Just wanted to point out the obvious, the Monkey Grasping for Moon is another telling of the story of the Tower of Bable, although in written languages and about written languages. Hopelessness and chaos for both monkeys and homo sapien.
June 29th, 2005 at 1:16 am e
Lots of food for thought here. I love the bird also.
Suzanne