It is a pleasure
that I have chance to enjoy the gallery “Song Dong: 365 CALENDARS”. When I
first entered the venue, I was shocked since calendars with black and white on
were all around. “It must be very boring” that is what I thought at that time
since I like colourful artworks more than that in black and white only.
However, actual result is not. The “content” of those artwork is wonderful.
365 CALERDARS seems
a giant diary or schedule of Song Dong. It starts at 1978 which he started to
notice ART and ends at 2013 which is all blank in order to present the sense of
changes. In the following paragraphs, I would like to talk about few pictures
which give me inspiration or enjoyment.
Firstly, the month
of Song Dong’s 18-years-old birthday is the most impressed picture. I am
sensitive with this magic number since now I am 18 years old, same as Song Dong
at that time. Song Dong has used lots of blank space so as to break the word “18
years old” out. This gives me a sense of imagination – what I should add onto
the blank spaces in the future. But with reading the words, I think what Song
Dong actually wants to present is the freedom of being adult. Finally he does
not need to use parents’ money to keep his living. What a big start!
Secondly, actually
this gallery is not only a giant diary of Song Dong, but also a brief summary
of China and worldwide development. In the later part of Song Dong’s work, more
and more impressive news are drawn. This may be because of the growth of Song
Dong making him to notice more on other fields. This scene is
remarkable for all Chinese, including young Song Dong at that time. He uses the
most direct method to present this incident – he was an audience and watched
the television to witness the boy who was brave enough to stop in front of
tanks and prevent them going forward to hurt the university students. Also,
from the small size of television monitor, which is pressed by planks and miscellaneous
articles, it tells the feelings of Song Dong – angry, sad and oppressive.
Everything is directly presented so that I do not need to read his words in
order to understand his work. That is marvelous.
Still, colourful pictures
are more attractive to me although the black and white work is excellent in
drawing skills and conceptions. The organization has invited 432 people (no
age, nationality or occupation restriction) to paint or redesign Song Dong’s
calendars. All of them drew at the same time and at the same place before the
gallery started. This is only two of the artwork which include newness and
entertainment. I like them so much although it may not be drawing by a real
artist.
At the end, I got a
postcard which is same as the cover photo. Song Dong uses the end of
civilization as the theme of this gallery. However, I think Song Dong has the
same thought with me – being positive to the future. Therefore, this picture is
just to emphasize the difference of calendars in different regions in order to explain
“the end of civilization”.
This gallery will
definitely become one part of my memory. Perhaps I should start my mini calendar
from now on!
I'm glad that your initial impression of the gallery was reversed by the end. Your review has a good balance because you chose to write about three distinct experiences you had from the work: a very personal interpretation, a collective memory for a large Chinese public, and collaborative work by the artist and audience. Well done.
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