Catalogue of key works by Beijing artist Wang Gongxin, who is regarded as a pioneer in the field of new media in China. He is known for video installations such as Sky of Brooklyn (1995) which he created upon returning to China after a period of living in the United States. For the work, Wang dug a three-meter-deep hole in the floor of his courtyard house and placed a video monitor at the bottom which displayed footage of the sky, filmed from his former home in New York.

'Movies have certainly replaced dioramas in the public's imagination. But, video art, in many ways, has allowed artists to reinvestigate the use of architectural illusions. To replicate the sense of entering a room or to disrupt the audience's comfort zone, this form of video installation literally builds a space that is almost convincingly real...

Wang Gongxin has proven himself to be a master of this mode of video art, conjuring convincing realities out of thin air. He can replicate a house, a street, even the sky, in ways that make viewers rearrange their expectations of their environment. He makes all things seem real and possible, the result of growing up and living in a country where the fabulous became reality. It is his talent to make those changes come alive for viewers from different cultures. It is his insight that he knows that to do this best, he must remain rooted in his hometown of Beijing.' - Barbara Pollack

With essays by Barbara Pollack and Barbara London. Artist biography included.

Alternative title

Wang Gongxin: Works 1993-2008

Access level

Onsite

Location code
MON.WGX
Language

English

Publication/Creation date

2008

No of pages

182

ISBN / ISSN

9789881752253

No of copies

2

Content type

artist monograph

Chapter headings

Digging a Hole, Building a House: The Video Installations of Wang Gongxin - Barbara POLLACK

In Perspective: Wang Gongxin - Barbara LONDON

Wang Gong Xin: Works 1993-2008
Share
Citation
Rights statement

In Copyright

What does this mean?

This item is covered by one or more copyrights. It is available for research only or use within Hong Kong’s fair dealing rules. Please do not copy, re-use or reproduce this item without the permission of the copyright holder.

Wang Gong Xin: Works 1993-2008