Art & Design Now
Until 2 March 2014
Victoria & Albert Museum, London
Celebrated Chinese artist Xu Bing has transformed the V&A’s John Madejski Garden with a new installation inspired by the classic Chinese fable Tao Hua Yuan (The Peach Blossom Spring), where a lost fisherman discovers a wonderland hidden behind a mountain where inhabitants live in harmony with nature. Inspired by the story, Xu Bing has transformed the garden into an idealised landscape.
“Travelling to the Wonderland” by Xu Bing
Xu Bing has transformed the garden into an idealised landscape.
Drawing elements from Chinese landscape scrolls, Xu Bing has collected authentic stones from different places in China and made them into a layered mountainscape. He has created a dream-like atmosphere with mist, light effects and sounds of birds and insects. Xu Bing’s works often challenge viewers to question their first impression - everything is not as it first seems. From certain angles visitors will see hidden machines and cables which remind them this wonderland is ultimately un-real, just like the Peach Blossom Spring is ultimately fictional.
In addition to the installation in the courtyard, there is an exhibition of works on paper by Xu Bing relating to Travelling to Wonderland, these can be found in Room 44 of the V&A, in the China section on the ground floor. This includes a new large-scale calligraphy work, based on historical writings inspired by Tao Hua Yuan. Also on display are albums of paintings and sketches that reveal the process of creating the garden installation.
Xu Bing (1955) lives and works in Beijing. He has received international recognition for his printmaking and installations that question the idea of communicating meaning through language. He has had solo exhibitions at numerous institutions worldwide and shown at the 45th and 51st Venice Biennales.
Travelling to the Wonderland has been created by Xu Bing for the V&A with support from Jing & Kai.
For a video of Xu Bing talking about Travelling to the Wonderland go to: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/videos/t/video-travelling-to-the-wonderland/
The Xu Bing installation is in the John Madejski Garden at the V&A Museum, Cromwell Road. London. SW7 2RL.
Admission to the museum and Xu Bing installation is free.
It is open from 10am till 5:30pm from 2 November 2013 until 2 March 2014.
The nearest tube station is South Kensington.
John Madejeski Garden Installation, Travelling to Wonderland, by Xu Bing © Victoria and Albert Museum London.
Xu Bing’s works often challenge viewers to question their first impression - everything is not as it first seems...
Xu Bing in his workshop © Xui Bing Studio