V&A Museum- Wang Qing Song

 

Fig 1. Wang Qingsong- Night Revels of Lao Li- 2002 (author's own)

  

Wang Qingsong 'Night Revels of Lao Li'- 2000. This photograph reworks 'The Night Revels of Han Xizai, a Chinese scroll painting from the 10th century. The painting was apparently made for an emperor by a court artist employed to spy on an official. Qingsong portrays the official using a Chinese art critic named Li Xianting and he himself plays the role of the artist observing each scene from the background. Below I produced three sketches using charcoal and pen, two of Qingsong himself in the background, and one of the four girls playing their instruments. I suppose everyone has a different understanding of this piece, but to me it seemed like those women were there to serve and entertain, whether it was through music, giving the official a massage, washing the official's feet and fanning him. Seems like a sexually unequal context. 

Fig 2. my interpretations (author's own)