LIU Xiaoxian

(China, Australia 1963– )

Title

Our Gods

Place of origin

China

Year

2000

Media category

Photograph

Materials used

18 type C photographs

Edition

1/3

Dimensions

100.0 x 100.0cm each panel/photograph:

a - Part a; 100 x 100cm

b - Part b; 100 x 100cm

c - Part c; 100 x 100cm

d - Part d; 100 x 100cm

e - Part e; 100 x 100cm

f - Part f; 100 x 100cm

g - Part g; 100 x 100cm

h - Part h; 100 x 100cm

i - part i; 100 x 100cm

j - part j; 100 x 100cm

k - part k; 100 x 100cm

l - part l; 100 x 100cm

m - Part m; 100 x 100cm

n - Part n; 100 x 100cm

o - Part o; 100 x 100cm

p - Part p; 100 x 100cm

q - Part q; 100 x 100cm

r - Part r; 100 x 100cm

Signature & date

Not signed. Not dated.

Credit

D G Wilson Bequest Fund 2000

Accession number

168.2000.a-r

Copyright

Location

Not on display

Further information

'In this subtle and insightful work, each larger-than-life image proves on close inspection to be composed of digitally produced images of the other: Christ is created from tiny figures of Buddha and the Buddha from tiny images of Christ. There are 22,500 smaller figures in each large figure. The Buddha is in fact the so-called 'Laughing Buddha', a historical figure called Budai who also became synonymous with the Future Buddha Maitreya. Budai was an eccentric pot-bellied Chinese monk easily recognisable by his enormous smile and the large cloth bag he always carried. Budai was revered as an enlightened being, detached from the cares that bind the rest of us. He became associated with Maitreya because of his supramundane character and because of a famous poem he wrote on his deathbed that implied that he was Maitreya in disguise.

In Chinese folklore, he became a symbol of good luck and prosperity. The artist Liu Xiaoxian was born in China and emigrated to Australian in the 1980s.'

Bibliography (6)

Victoria Lynn (Australia) (Curator), Moet & Chandon Exhibition 2000 - Passing Time, Sydney, 2000, (colour illus.) Not paginated.

'Passing Time: Photography at the Moet & Chandon Exhibition 2000' Reviewed by Peter Hill, pg.59, Photofile 59 Apr 2000, Apr 2000, 59.

Jackie Menzies (Australia) (Editor), Buddha: Radiant awakening, Sydney, 2001, 178 (colour illus.), 180 (colour illus.), 188. The image appearing on page 178 is a detail of this work. cat.no. 131

'The Shanghai School and Modern Painting', The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales 2003, 2003, 181 (colour illus.).

'Asian Galleries. Art Gallery of New South Wales' by Dinah and Michael Dysart, pg. 541-543., Art and Australia (Vol. 41, No. 4) Jun 2004-Aug 2004, Jun 2004-Aug 2004, 541, 542 (colour illus.), 543.

'The cultural revolution' by John McDonald, pg. 18-26., The Australian Financial Review Magazine Dec 2002, Dec 2002, 21 (colour illus.).

Exhibition history (2)

Moët & Chandon Exhibiton 2000 - Passing Time, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 08 Feb 2000–19 Mar 2000.

Buddha: Radiant awakening, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 10 Nov 2001–24 Feb 2002.