Duan Jianyu A Treasure Left in the Earthly World No.2 2014
Biscuit porcelain, eggs, fiberglass pedestal
Overall dimensions approximately: 54.5 × 60 × 140 cm
At first glance, the character modeling in “A Treasure Left in the Earthly World” appears to be a humorous response to Henry Moore’s sculptures: the slanting human form, simplified facial features, and holes in the main body are typical of Moore’s sculptural style. This modeling is commonly believed to have been developed by Moore in the 1920s, inspired by Maya sculptures, which reflects the complex relationship between modernist forms, non-Western art, and even primitive art.
In Duan Jianyu’s transformation of forms, she introduces egg racks—an alternative hole structure—into the abstract human shapes, creating a seemingly discordant and abrupt experience when compared to the harmony of Moore’s sculptures. However, when the egg rack is used and eggs are placed on it according to daily needs, we suddenly realize that it is the everyday actions themselves that shape the form of the sculpture, and this happens precisely in an unconscious state that we take for granted. As a result, the sculpture breaks free from being just an object to be observed and returns to everyday life, seemingly “alive” alongside people’s daily routines.
图文由艺术家和维他命艺术空间惠允 Courtesy of the artist and Vitamin Creative Space
