Zhou Yan Contemporary Chinese Art Archive 周彦当代中国艺术档案
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Date
1993
Format
Project on Paper
Location of Exhibition Event
Berlin, Germany
Materials
A large abacus, rice bowls
Dimensions
216 x 97 cm (abacus), 2 x 20 cm (for each bowl)
Description
Upon a giant abacus, an ancient Chinese device used for mathematical calculation, the artist Qiu replaced the small stone marks on the abacus with rice bowls that equal in quantity. The number denoted by the abacus is meant to represent the population in China -- 1.2 billion. But Qiu Ping purposively made a mistake to make the number marked as 1.3 billion. The artist might be wearily making a comment on the growing population in China, and the food resources (symbolism played by rice bowls) could develop into an issue, especially with people's difference in social class (the difference in the rice bowls' qualities may denote various social classes). (Kries, Qiu and more, Chinese Gate (catalogue), 1994, available on Zhou Document) (Jerry Wu'23).
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