Vase
Performance/ Video, 12’43”, Guangzhou, China, 2021.
Three men sit around a large porcelain vase near a construction site, pulling on their underwear and blowing a (broken) suona, making a faint but pervasive sound. Another male waiter in a suit holds up a microphone and picks up the sound, his movements triggered by the actions and sounds of the other men, magnifying their subtly arrogant actions by quickly highlighting them, as if he were holding a tracking device and a loudspeaker.
'Vase' is a popular term used to describe a superficially good-looking woman. It is a term widely used in China to stigmatise women. It refers to a stereotyped image of a beautiful woman who is perceived to be incompetent, or her endeavours and intelligence are always overshadowed by her appearance.
Men slapping their waistbands is a typical image of an extremely arrogant and commanding man, referring to an archetype of traditional masculinity, while adding humour and tension to the seemingly casual, even run-down environment where they lived at the time.
The construction site was previously a restaurant, which was quickly demolished during the process as we prepared for the work. The restaurant and the whole ruin where we initially planned to do the work was all gone in three days.
This work is a collaboration of Hijack打劫. Supported by CT20.
Performer: Xizi, Mahui, Jianhao, Qiufeng Qingqing
