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China's Chubby Women: Big bums and bold ideas China's Chubby Women: Big bums and bold ideas
(2 months later)
The sight of fifteen rotund Chinese women dotted along the River Thames this week is a source of much amusement to commuters and tourists.The sight of fifteen rotund Chinese women dotted along the River Thames this week is a source of much amusement to commuters and tourists.
Xu Hongfei, the Chinese sculptor and current president of the Guangzhou Sculpture Academy, arrived in the capital on Tuesday with his ‘Chubby Women’ sculptures for a two-week exhibition. Tower Bridge has witnessed many cultural phenomena over time, but portly Chinese women perched on bicycles, oscillating wildly on skateboards and engaged in amorous embraces with whippet-like men is a definite first. Xu Hongfei, the Chinese sculptor and current president of the Guangzhou Sculpture Academy, arrived in the capital on Tuesday with his ‘Chubby Women’ sculptures for a two-week exhibition. Tower Bridge has witnessed many cultural phenomena over time, but portly Chinese women perched on bicycles, oscillating wildly on skateboards and engaged in amorous embraces with whippet-like men is a definite first.
The ‘Chubby Women’ make their UK debut after stints in Australia, Italy and France where they have been greeted by world leaders and effusive crowds. They are lively, gleeful figures with swinging bosoms and rounded bottoms that invite interaction from visitors - whether through photography, touching, or just a smile.The ‘Chubby Women’ make their UK debut after stints in Australia, Italy and France where they have been greeted by world leaders and effusive crowds. They are lively, gleeful figures with swinging bosoms and rounded bottoms that invite interaction from visitors - whether through photography, touching, or just a smile.
All of the exhibitions on Xu Hongfei’s travelling world tour take place outdoors.All of the exhibitions on Xu Hongfei’s travelling world tour take place outdoors.
“I wanted more interaction between the audience and the sculptures," he said. “You can’t touch the work in art galleries but with the outdoor exhibitions you can have that level of interaction. It isn’t about the visitor and the art, or us and them. I want to lose those distinctions. It’s a global show with a global sense of bringing people together.”“I wanted more interaction between the audience and the sculptures," he said. “You can’t touch the work in art galleries but with the outdoor exhibitions you can have that level of interaction. It isn’t about the visitor and the art, or us and them. I want to lose those distinctions. It’s a global show with a global sense of bringing people together.”
So it felt to me that the criticism levelled at Hongfei by Guardian critic Jonathan Jones was out of context. In his blog published on the afternoon of the launch Jones sought to reinforce the distinction between the UK and China by taking a stab at the capital for marking the 25th anniversary of Tiananmen Square with what he termed ‘an exhibition of Xu Hongfei’s jolly, state-approved sculptures’?So it felt to me that the criticism levelled at Hongfei by Guardian critic Jonathan Jones was out of context. In his blog published on the afternoon of the launch Jones sought to reinforce the distinction between the UK and China by taking a stab at the capital for marking the 25th anniversary of Tiananmen Square with what he termed ‘an exhibition of Xu Hongfei’s jolly, state-approved sculptures’?
This is at odds with an exhibition that neither purports to be a reaction to, nor a marking of, the tragedy. The ‘Chubby Women’ London show, which will subsequently tour to Turin and then Milan, is designed to promote cultural exchange between host countries and China. Cultural exchange isn’t a euphemism for political intrigue or cover-up - despite Jones’s questioning whether the show was a deliberate distraction ‘from those unhelpful memories’ – but rather a sign that there is genuine interest in China and the UK in the work of established and emerging artists and a desire to develop a reciprocal relationship by which artists gain new opportunities to show their works abroad.This is at odds with an exhibition that neither purports to be a reaction to, nor a marking of, the tragedy. The ‘Chubby Women’ London show, which will subsequently tour to Turin and then Milan, is designed to promote cultural exchange between host countries and China. Cultural exchange isn’t a euphemism for political intrigue or cover-up - despite Jones’s questioning whether the show was a deliberate distraction ‘from those unhelpful memories’ – but rather a sign that there is genuine interest in China and the UK in the work of established and emerging artists and a desire to develop a reciprocal relationship by which artists gain new opportunities to show their works abroad.
Having been involved in the project, I have witnessed first-hand the desire on both sides, from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to the government of the Guangdong province, to promote culture across borders in a real and tangible way.Having been involved in the project, I have witnessed first-hand the desire on both sides, from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to the government of the Guangdong province, to promote culture across borders in a real and tangible way.
Whilst Chinese artist Ai Weiwei's political works and sentiment have garnered support worldwide, his belief that ‘artists, by profession, have a duty to challenge the society they live in and to question mainstream assumptions’ is not gospel.Whilst Chinese artist Ai Weiwei's political works and sentiment have garnered support worldwide, his belief that ‘artists, by profession, have a duty to challenge the society they live in and to question mainstream assumptions’ is not gospel.
Not all audiences agree that the primary function of art should be as a vehicle for political transformation and not all artists wish to be judged on their political sensibilities but would prefer instead to be judged on their aesthetic ones.Not all audiences agree that the primary function of art should be as a vehicle for political transformation and not all artists wish to be judged on their political sensibilities but would prefer instead to be judged on their aesthetic ones.
Whether or not one believes all art to be political in some sense- given that artists do not create work in a vacuum and are subject to a greater or lesser degree to societal influences- the real question raised is why in relation to China are we unable to separate the art from the politics of a one-party state? In the same way that manyMiddle Eastern artists have grown tired of having their work defined by war, so too have Chinese artists been confronted with ideology over aesthetics.Whether or not one believes all art to be political in some sense- given that artists do not create work in a vacuum and are subject to a greater or lesser degree to societal influences- the real question raised is why in relation to China are we unable to separate the art from the politics of a one-party state? In the same way that manyMiddle Eastern artists have grown tired of having their work defined by war, so too have Chinese artists been confronted with ideology over aesthetics.
In China, a country with a population close to 1.4 billion, we cannot expect all artists to be motivated by the same issues. We cannot look to an exhibition that brings such lively sculptures to London and refuse to see its merits because it doesn’t conform to our notions of legacy or moral retribution. The Chinese contemporary art scene is far broader than this and the political versus non-political distinction is not reflective of an entire nation nor of an entire artistic movement. A one-party state doesn’t translate into a one size fits all arts' arena.In China, a country with a population close to 1.4 billion, we cannot expect all artists to be motivated by the same issues. We cannot look to an exhibition that brings such lively sculptures to London and refuse to see its merits because it doesn’t conform to our notions of legacy or moral retribution. The Chinese contemporary art scene is far broader than this and the political versus non-political distinction is not reflective of an entire nation nor of an entire artistic movement. A one-party state doesn’t translate into a one size fits all arts' arena.
Xu Hongfei doesn’t define himself as a political artist, but rather as an artist who seeks to change the world, little by little, by introducing new cultures to his Chinese Chubby Women. These big, bold females embrace life with gusto. They mark a significant break away from western sculptural traditions and challenge our notions of beauty in art. They also challenge the perception of Chinese women domestically and in the west.Xu Hongfei doesn’t define himself as a political artist, but rather as an artist who seeks to change the world, little by little, by introducing new cultures to his Chinese Chubby Women. These big, bold females embrace life with gusto. They mark a significant break away from western sculptural traditions and challenge our notions of beauty in art. They also challenge the perception of Chinese women domestically and in the west.
“We have large women, too”, says Xu Hongfei, “and big can be beautiful.”“We have large women, too”, says Xu Hongfei, “and big can be beautiful.”
This reinventing and reimagining is, if not revolutionary, certainly liberating. He wants, he says, “to make people smile and come together in laughter and good will.”This reinventing and reimagining is, if not revolutionary, certainly liberating. He wants, he says, “to make people smile and come together in laughter and good will.”
This may be a ‘soft’ sentiment for a hardened art critic, but it is a universal one. It won’t be political enough for some, but the crowds hanging out with the Chubby Women by the riverside would beg to differ.This may be a ‘soft’ sentiment for a hardened art critic, but it is a universal one. It won’t be political enough for some, but the crowds hanging out with the Chubby Women by the riverside would beg to differ.
‘Chubby Charms by the Riverside’ runs until 16th June at More London Riverside, SE1 2DB, London‘Chubby Charms by the Riverside’ runs until 16th June at More London Riverside, SE1 2DB, London