Scholar's Boat
Fishing boat, antique furniture, wood structure
303×110×900 cm
2014
Scholar's Boat
YEAR: 2014
MATERIAL: Fishing boat, antique furniture, wood structure
SIZE: 303 × 110 × 900 cm
VENUE EXHIBITED:
2014 Xiang Yang's Intellectual Garden, Today Art Museum, Beijing
2014 Park – 2014 Art Beijing Art Zone, Agricultural Exhibition Center, Beijing
The 9-meter-long installation is constructed of a traditional Chinese wood fishing boat, antique cabinets, and reconstructed chair parts. A fishing boat forms the base of the piece, and antique Chinese wood furniture (cabinets, closets, and window frames) are pieced together to form the house on top. Old wooden chairs are also deconstructed and rebuilt into two new abstract constructions which are placed at both ends of the work.
Antique furniture is often found in museums or shops for visitors to appreciate its historic and aesthetic value. In this work – the Scholar’s Boat – cabinets and chairs lose their original function. They are transformed into an abstract, futuristic space in which visitors can walk and rest. Ancient Chinese scholars often expressed themselves in nature by painting a small boat on a vast lake. My intention is to create a fantasy boat for contemporary scholars.