 Mao008-12, 1996 Meng... 2002 |
 Mao012-11, 1997 Shan... 2002 |
 Mao016-05, 1997 Lush... 2002 |
 Mao024-07, 1997 Ruya... 2002 |
 Mao094-11, 1997 Xipi... 2002 |
 Mao187-01.1998 Ye Co... 2002 |
Artists Statement
Mao on the wall series.
Mao. Which other personality would we think of whenever China is mentioned? There were pictures of Mao in every household; images of him dominated every corner. Wang Tong has pursued this portrait of the past and has held fast the fading traces in hand-colored images. The remainders of Mao’s image are found everywhere along the Great Wall of China, on the fronts of houses and walls. In an endless variety his face pops up and fadingly still defines the environment. These painted signs and faces are messengers from the past, which will remind the Chinese for times to come and pursue them with the question of “the good old days“. The romantic view of these scenarios - not digitally hard images and modern colors - but painted in the old traditional Chinese way succeed in making the connection to an uncertain but bright future.
