"I live in Art and art lives in me" By Song Dong
I visited this exhibition in Quarry Bay on 2 February, 2013. It called 36 Calendars and it is co- presented by Asia Art Archive and Mobile of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. The exhibition shows Song Dong in re-writing the last 36 years of history calendars from 1978 to 2013. These calendars build on Song's longtime investigation into socio- political history, individual experience and art history. Song Dong intentions in the 36 Calendars project are based on very personal perspectives rather than objective and precise memories of the past. The calendars document his encounters with different people, objects and event from 1978 to 2013.
On 21 January 2013, Song Dong met 432 members of the public in this exhibition space to assist him in completing the project. Each participant was given a month from the calendar sketched by Song Dong . They were invited to add, change or edit the drawing according to their own memories of the historical event. Why Song Dong will prepare the project of 36 Calendars it is because he believes everybody can have their own way to experience time and as the world is basically defined by different concepts of time. When he has the privilege of being an Artist in residence at Asia Art Archive in 2011, he found material connected to his personal growth which was dear to him. Therefore, he decides to draw 36 Calendars for exploring socio- political history, individual experience and art history. Finally, Song Dong spent more than a year realising this project.
Song Dong's 36 calendars document his encounters with different historical event.
1: The One-child policy how to effect the population structure of Chinese society.
2: Song Dong expresses his personal emotion in June Fourth Incident.
He cries and he feels angry because he listens to gunshots and he sees the blood. He hopes everyone can be healthy. It reflects that Song Dong intentions in the 36 Calendars project are based on very personal perspectives.
3: Facebook how to effect the development of social network .
How does Song Dong evaluate Facebook?
He thinks Facebook can solve the interpersonal problem even if he does not use it.
Personally, I agree to history and art is inseparable. Song Dong describes socio- political history, individual experience and art history through drawing 36 Calendars. It reflects that art is a good tool to reserve our
historical memories and fragments of life. Moreover, I like
his motto. He said that " I live in Art and art lives in me" because I think each artists must have the mission for art. I think Song Dong i
s very enthusiastic in
art. For example, I appreciate that he spends more time to finish the project of 36 calendars. It is not easy for him to met 432 members of the public in this exhibition space to assist him in completing the last 36 years of history calendars. We can see that he is ambitious in art.
Overall, the exhibition of 36 Calendars is very interesting because these calendars remind me some
historical memories and fragments of life. Finally, I clearly understand life is the part of art and art is the part of life.
