Xu Bing and Mian Mian in Shanghai – April 22

I’ll quickly plug this appearance by the artist Xu Bing at Three on the Bund this Sunday. Xu Bing provided a great graphic to Hong Kong University Press of their logo that was used on several of my earlier books and was always commented upon. So I’m a fan. I also note that Mian Mian is on the panel – I haven’t seen her for ages but we had a lot of fun a few years ago at a Hong Kong Literary Festival events around her novels Candy and Panda Sex.

Three Talk session

Three on the Bund

Sunday, April 22, 2012

3.30-6pm

Book from the Sky to Book from the Ground

Special guest speakers will include leading contemporary artist Xu Bing and noted author Mian Mian

RSVP: threetalk@on-the-bund.com

Xu Bing is one of China’s most important artists as well as a prominent figure in the international contemporary art world. The works on view at SGA is a continuation of Xu’s longstanding interest in the relationship between symbol, text and meaning.

In this lecture, the artist will trace the conceptual development of these themes starting with his groundbreaking, Book from the Sky (1987-1991) for which the artist single handedly invented over 3000 new Chinese characters, through his New English Calligraphy Series (1994- ), which morphs English words into Chinese characters, to the development of Book from the Ground. This talk will reveal the mechanisms behind Xu Bing’s creative process and show the evolution of this extraordinary artist’s vision.

Three Talk is an ongoing inspirational speaker series held at the historic Three on the Bund. The talks are a reflection of THREE Spirit – an appreciation of and respect for philanthropy, cultural sensitivity and unity in diversity. The purpose of the series is to engage the local community in discussions on topical socio-economic issues around the world, with particular emphasis on China.