On Thursday evening we went for a private guided tour of the exhibition “Art for the Millions” at the Schirn Gallery in Frankfurt. The company DH works for is a corporate sponsor of the gallery and this is one of the perks for employees and spouses.
The exhibition shows over 100 life-sized figures in seven scenes depicting the exploitation of the peasants by the landlords. The figures were produced during the Mao era and the originals are made of dry clay and can still be seen in the original setting – the rent collection courtyard – in the Sichuan province in China. The original intention was to educate the masses about the justification for the cultural revolution. Whether the scenes depicted are entirely accurate or not the whole group is certainly thought provoking. The figures produce an immediate emotional response is the viewer.
The figures on show in Frankfurt were produced in 1974 – 1978 in copper coated fibre glass with the intention of lending them out to other countries for exhibition. More than 50 people were involved in the creation – professional and amateur sculptors, students and workers. In 1972 Harald Szeemann, curator of documenta 5, attempted to bring one of the sets to Kassel, Germany, but was unsuccessful for political and financial reasons. The current exhibition is the first time the group of figures has been shown in the West. The exhibition is in conjunction with the Frankfurt Book Fair, where this year China was the featured guest land.
The exhibition is exceptional in that there are no barriers around the figures, which gives a completely different impression as you can really get up close to them. Although for obvious reasons you are not allowed to wander around within the groups.
At the time the figures were produced there was no tradition of sculpture in China. The figures are strongly influenced by European art and artists such as Käthe Kollwitz and Rodin.
A general view of the exhibition. In the original setting the figures are displayed around 3 sides of the courtyard – not possible in the Schirn due to the shape of the exhibition hall.
From scene 3 – winnowing machines are used to sift out the grain.
From scene 4 showing the administrator, who decides if the quantity of grain is sufficient.
From scene 6 – farmers who could not pay their tithe in full were punished.
All images are press images from the Schirn Gallery.