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 This is the first UK solo exhibition of Shanghai based Ji Weiyu and Song Tao who collaborate under the name of Birdhead. Their youthful and rebellious spirit, the savvy way in they operate and their highly collaborative approach have made them a respected presence in the Shanghai arts scene.
The two artists grew up in Shanghai in the 1980s when mass urbanisation began in China. The frenetic pace of change in the city, one which leaves no time for questions or hesitation, is conveyed by the spontaneous and accumulative aesthetic of their work. Working in photography and video, with a highly improvised and self-contained approach, Birdhead take snapshots of their everyday lives and their surroundings. Their subjective and un-retouched take on urban reality captures not only a local cultural identity, from a native inhabitant’s point of view, but also invokes the physical experience of being in Shanghai, the relationship between the body and the city.
Ji Weiyu and Song Tao were born and live in Shanghai. Recent exhibitions include China Power Station II, Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo, Norway, Birdhead Photography Show 2006-2007, BizArt, Shanghai, China and Individual Position II, ShangART, Shanghai, China.
Image credit: Birdhead, Birdhead 2005-25, 2005, photo courtesy of the artists.
Chinese Arts Centre
Birdhead: Ji Weiyu & Song Tao
11 July - 26 September 2009
Preview - Thursday 16 July 2009 - 5.30-7.30pm
For email interviews, images and further information on Chinese Arts Centre, please contact Ying Kwok at Chinese Arts Centre via +44 (0) 161 832 7271 or
ying.kwok@chinese-arts-centre.org.
Chinese Arts Centre, Market Buildings, Thomas Street, Manchester, M4 1EU
+44 (0)161 832 7271
Opening Hours: Tues -Sat 10am – 5pm
www.chinese-arts-centre.org
A PDF version of this Press Release can be downloaded here.
Chinese Arts Centre was established in 1986 and is the international agency for the development of contemporary Chinese artists. It works to promote and support artists of Chinese descent through exhibitions, residencies, commissions, festivals, publications and agency work. Following on from a £2.5 million Lottery grant, it opened its purpose built Centre in November 2003 and received a RIBA award for architecture and was a finalist for the accessible building of the year in 2004. In 2006 Chinese Arts Centre was proud to receive a Pearl Award for Creative Excellence.
Chinese Arts Centre launches Birdhead’s BAG (Birdhead Affordable Game) Art project in the UK to coincide with their solo exhibition
Ever wanted to own a piece of art by an internationally renowned Chinese artist?
Here is your chance!
Countering the phenomenal prices that Chinese contemporary art has been fetching and in anticipation of the downturn in the Chinese contemporary art market, the duo Birdhead have created a playful new collecting model which enables people to own Chinese contemporary art.
10 leading Chinese artists have signed up to participate in the BAG project including Yang Fudong, Zhou Tie Hai, Zhang Enli and Ding Yi, each of whom have given Birdhead an image to reproduce on inexpensive paper. The works measures about 50x60cm will be priced at the cost of 24 McDonald Big Mac Meals. Not only will ‘collectors’ be able to purchase the works at a low price, additionally this will include the service of having the works pasted directly onto your wall by the duo themselves or specially appointed technicians, and framed by a sprayed stencil frame designed by Birdhead.
To expand the project, Birdhead are inviting artists from cities in which they launch the project to submit images to be disseminated in other cities and countries.
Chinese Arts Centre is proud to be the sole dealer in the UK.
Please checkout www.bagart.org to find out more.
For further information and to reserve a piece of work please contact the centre at
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or on 0161 832 7271. |
