Xu Bing

[Yan Feng]

Xu Bing, male, born 1955 in Chongqing, family from Zhejiang Province, Han Ethnicity. Graduated in 1981 from the printmaking department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) where he stayed on as an instructor. In 1987, earned his MFA from the graduate printmaking department of CAFA, where he again stayed on as an instructor. He is a member of China Artists’ Association. His works have been selected for exhibition both at home and abroad; he is a four-time award winner, publications include the album “Xu Bing’s Small Woodcuts.”

BOOK FROM THE GROUND (work in progress)
Date: 2007
Materials: software and Plexiglas panel with text on mylar
Institution: MoMa, New York
Website:www.bookfromtheground.com

Exhibition space at MOMA.

Exhibition space at MOMA, using the chat program.

徐冰的作品《地书》尝试建立的是一个语言文字的乌托邦——不论你是否受过教育，不论你操哪种语言，只要有生活经验的人都能阅读。在徐冰的工作室，南方周末记者看到已经装订成册的《地书》样书，那是一本标准的图画书，连续排列的图形标识记录了一个爱情故事，故事是从太阳升起开始的：早晨7：00，一个男人被闹钟叫醒，起床，洗漱，吃早餐，打车赶去机场，坐上11：00飞往纽约的飞机……

“这是一个艺术家的理想，但是它带有很强的未来性。”为配合《地书》，徐冰特地制作了“字库”软件，使用者将英文句子打入键盘，电脑即刻转译成图形标识语言。以后还将开发中文和其他主要语言的转译功能。“字库”软件会有实用价值，比如在某个国家问路，可以输入中文；别人可以输入他使用的语言，通过电脑转译而来的图形标识达成交流。在纽约现代美术馆的展览上，观众可以亲手在《地书》现场展示的电脑上过一把瘾。