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December 3, 2010

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Tasty recreations of Western classics

ARTIST Ju Duoqi doesn't consider vegetables as something to merely eat.

To her, carrots, cucumbers, cabbages and other veggies can be used to create art.

She is expert in using vegetable to recreate some famous Western paintings. When she finishes, she takes a photograph of the work.

The Museum of Contemporary Art Shanghai is displaying Ju's delicious art, along with 13 other female artists from China and Japan, at the "Beyond the Body" exhibition, which runs until the end of next month.

"This is the first time Museum of Contemporary Art Shanghai has cast its eyes on female artists," says Samuel Kung, the museum's director, "Although today female artists receive some attention, they are still often regarded as 'rare' in the contemporary art field."

But don't consider this exhibit as a feminist statement, it's simply about showcasing the acute sensibilities and subtleness of these artists.

Most of the artists have chosen photography to reflect on their inner lives, express their emotions and show their observations of the world.

While the exhibit features 13 other artists, Ju's work likely gets the most attention.

"I find it very interesting to pick up vegetables, making them into a form and finally taking a picture," Ju says, "Of course, it takes a lot of time to make one photo, but the whole process is fun."

Ju's artwork is reminiscent of the Chinese expression "to desire food and sex is human nature."

Her series, titled "Vegetable Museum," draws inspiration from daily life. With vegetables she reconstructs classical Western paintings in a playful, mocking tone.

With the camera serving as a faithful recorder, she cleverly alludes to the distant West with readily available objects. With her Eastern sense of humor and vivid mimicry, she casually reduces these exalted "classics" into ordinary things.



Date: through January 2, 10am-9:30pm

Address: 231 Nanjing Rd W. (inside People's Park)

Tel: 6327-9900




 

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