Mixed material
Variable size
The introduction of the bold font in China is still controversial. After several wars (including World War II, the Cold War and the Chinese Civil War), and ensuing political movements; the bold font was widely used in propaganda because of its strong visual impact. To the present day, it is remembered in the context of socialism. In China, the first word of the 12 Core Socialist Values is “富强”(prosperity); the character “富” means “wealthy”. Over a century ago, even neighbouring countries like Japan also used the characters “富”as a slogan of the Meiji Restoration.
In the exhibition, a huge incomplete “富” character comes into sight, almost completely occupying the entirety of the wall space. The tilted character “富” is placed on an exposed wooden keel. Yellow lottery balls are scattered on the ground like tiny people, drifting along with the tide of the country’s economic growth. Elsewhere in the show, large propaganda prints are fragmented and shown as Found objects. These point to an increasingly convergent aesthetic – a public aesthetic as a carrier of authority.
Finally, a black and white comics illustrates a sense of emptiness and anxiety; reflecting the political reality. It is inspired by a man I met at a lottery kiosk who told me he bought only lottery tickets to support himself. He said me that the rules of the lottery are like water, “No one knows the shape of water” (a famous quotation that comes from the ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi).
