A Chinese artist is asking 1,001 Chinese to come up with artworks to be shown in an international exposition of modern art in the central German city Kassel in June.
Ai Weiwei, the son of outstanding Chinese poet Ai Qing, is an artist, curator and architectural designer who has been working in China and the United States since the late 1970s, the Oriental Morning Post reported on Wednesday.
The city of Kassel is famous for its Kassel Documenta, one of the world's three major modern art expositions which have been held since 1955. Last time it was held the Kassel art expo attracted more than 500,000 visitors and about 650,000 are expected during the coming 12th Kassel Documenta.
Ai broadcast his art recruitment bid on his blog (http://blog.sina.com.cn/m/aiweiwei) on February 26. The deadline for entries is March 31 and the name list of participants will be announced before April 1.
The Chinese group act at the expo is named "Fairytale" and will start on June 12 and run to July 14, Ai said. Participants will be divided into five groups, each containing about 200 people, who will perform in rounds.
Ai hasn't revealed the form and content of "Fairytale", but he insists that it won't be performance art.
"No nudes in the performance." Ai said. " 'Fairytale' is a work with a strong concept concerning economics, society and culture. I don't care if nobody considers it art. I believe it has already been on the large stage of art."
Chinese citizens aged between 18 and 60 can apply and there is no area or occupation limit.
Ai will pay for all the plane tickets, visas, insurance and accommodation in Germany for the 1,001-strong group of artists. They will depart from Beijing and Shanghai, transferring in Frankfurt for Kassel.
"Fairytale" is not a totally free trip for participants. All activities are restricted to Kassel and no one is allowed to leave the team without permission. And all pictures and collected information are at the organizer's disposal.
About 1,000 people applied to take part in just two days after the blog appeared which exceeded Ai's expectations. Ai said he has informed the Organization Committee of Kassel Documenta about his plan and has received "approval."
By Kat Jiang |
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