Part of "Vancouver Biennale 2009-2011 " artwork that is being displayed all over the city.
Yue Minjuns figurative sculpture A-Mazing Laughter. 14 figures each standing roughly 8′ high sculpted in 7 different, evocative positions. With more teeth than ever thought possible & squinting eyes, the figures are bent forward, leaning back, making funny gestures with their hands.
Are they laughing, are they playing? Or is something else happening here? Whats behind that smile? Is it a smile, is it something else?
investigation of the artist who is sanctioned by the Government of China shows his works portray laughing Asian men with horns as in"Between Men and Animals. In Vancouver, the statues are titled Amazing laughter, the artist claims ecstatic joy but it is not joy despite the smiles. Most revealing postures is the statues hands raised behind the head as devil horns. Chinese slang for white people is Foreign devils "Gwello" Very telling indeed. I believe they are laughing at our ignorance.
GalacticPacific 2 months ago