the greatness - yi zhou transforms pharrell williams into a vase in a 3d sequel to her film the ear in which he stars - soundtrack performed by legendary composer ennio morricone + yi zhou
“yi’s work has always stood out, her concepts well executed, and ennio is perfection” pharrell williams
yi zhou’s latest 3d animation the greatness, based on layers of video game programs and advanced 3d programming research, will debut from thursday at 20 hoxton square projects in collaboration with testori uk, as part of her first solo show in London - curated by rachael barratt and adam waymouth, and entitled I AM YOUR SIMULACRUM, the exhibition will feature yi zhou’s work from 2006 to present
the greatness begins with a surreal, striking and unexpected explosion of the pharrell williams vase - as it disintegrates, wiliams’ face breaks into a cubist inspired composition -i ts disappearing leads the spectator to a journey through a frightening labyrinth underworld
as with most film noir/fiction, the lead often has to exit the scene through death - zhou says: “the actual vase was made from a 3d scan of pharrell’s body, then I modelled it in 3d to turn it into a greek urn-style vase resembling a surreal mask - i like to take virtual characters out of my movies and turn them into tangible sculptural pieces - pharrell is a modern icon, so by imagining his face breaking up, it emphasizes the emotional side to how he’s regarded as an icon, and the idea of mortality that we all have to face, which puts us all on a level-footing as human beings”
continuing her exploration of film with sculpture, based on a clay model made in her shanghai studio, this vase represents a transition from a simulacrum into the real world - zhou is inspired once again by dante’s the divine comedy - her imaginary journey through circles of hell, purgatory and paradise, appropriates specific images, scenes, and characters from her earlier work; pharrell williams and the bridge from the video the ear (2008), the frozen fountain in an other worldly realm of ice from the video paradise (2007) and the image of the beating heart from my heart laid bare (2006), and places them in new and extraordinary environments - these juxtapositions and re-imaginations transform the artist’s original reference and meaning into something completely new and different in the greatness, and these new realities are given a sharp and almost tactile immediacy by the artist’s adroit manipulation of 3d technology
music is a central character in the greatness - the video begins with the notes of a mysterious waltz-like rhythm, and the soundtrack itself directs attention to the special collaboration between zhou and the oscar-winning composer ennio morricone (their 2nd such collaboration) - morricone’s exploration of the emotional vibrations of sound under a various states of fear, pleasure, exaltation and mystery, and his use in this piece of segments of previously unpublished melodies and sounds from his personal archives, are both an extension of his professional pro-occupation with ‘object and subject fusion’ and a perfect complement to zhou’s multilayered visual style - the haunting melodies are reminiscent of the soundtracks morricone composed for dario argento’s first trilogy of movies
brought up in rome, chinese artist zhou, now lives and works between paris and shanghai - following a childhood spent traversing east and west, and a degree in economics and political sciences, zhou’s ambitious artistic expression blends: mythology, philosophy, literature, imagination and technology, which are deeply rooted in both cultures - the overbearing themes of her work are however, universal - zhou speaks of the ephemeral yet all-consuming realities of love, life and death in a complex, symbolic language, pervaded by magic realism, a surrealist landscape and imaginary characters - her work exists in multiple layers as real and unreal, ancient and present collide through a process of: construction, deconstruction, recreation and transformation - the physical composition of her work is also multi faceted as she draws upon the varied disciplines of: film, digital animation, photography, sculpture, drawing, painting and musical composition in her large multi-media installations
the greatness was produced by contrasts gallery in partnership with mk2 - the soundtrack was recorded at morricone’s studio in rome in early 2010
both the greatness and the ear will feature as part of open 13 at the international exhibition of sculpture + installations in venice, taking place 1 september - 3 october 2010 - the acheronte traveller, a sculpture that also features in the greatness, will form the centrepiece to her installation there
thanks to the generous sponsorship of tag Heuer, 20 hoxton square projects will be showing an outdoor screening within hoxton square of yi zhou’s film ‘my heart laid bare’ (2008), starring charlotte gainsbourg - a 6m screen has been specially constructed by designer and architect tom finch and wireless headphones will be provided to ensure a fully interactive experience, taking place this thursday + friday
I AM YOUR SIMULACRUM
20 hoxton square projects
2 - 11 september 2010
http://www.yi-yo.net/
http://20hoxtonsquare.com/
mandix
mandi’s basement
