Best Before 8/28/1994 (Exhibition View)

Shot at Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts, the video consists of 4 scenes in slow motion:
1.    A defeathered chicken was cut open by a pair of scissors. The internal organs, the wings, thighs and head  were then removed.
2.    The meat of the chicken was shredded bit by bit
3.    The meat was licked continuously
4.    The meat was stuffed incessantly into someone’s mouth, while it was chewed by the person.

The installation consists of:
- 20 20-inch television sets
- 4 DVD players
- 8 aluminum pots with chicken thighs and soup ingredients
- 8 electric stoves
 
The 8 pots with boiling chicken thighs and the electric stoves were placed in a random fashion in front of the TV screens. The chicken thighs and soup were prepared prior to the exhibition opening. Water was added to the soup everyday so that it could be boiled over low fire until the closing date of the exhibition (which was 8/28/1994 as indicated in the title).

The 20 TVs were hung from the ceiling in the venue at about 40cm above the floor. Each of the 4 DVD player was connected to  5 TV sets. The DVD players played the looped video with different start times so that the audience could view 4 different moments of the video at the same time.

The volume of the background music Moonlight Of Spring River (《春江花月夜》) was only loud enough for the audience to listen in front of the TVs.

Please refer to Artistic Working Manual of Zhang Peili, Lingnan Meishu Chubanshe, Guangzhou, 2008, p 188 for more information.

Alternative title

Bao Xian Qi — 8/28/1994 (Zhan Lan Xian Chang)

Access level

Online

Keyword
Publication/Creation date

1994

Creation place

China

Medium

Video installation, 10-80min digital video, 20-inch TV sets, DVD players, electirc stoves, aluminum pots with chicken soup

Content type

artwork documentation

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In Copyright

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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.

Best Before 8/28/1994 (Exhibition View), 保鮮期 ─ 8/28/1994 (展覽現場)