Art: Spectral Memory by Wu Gaozhong at the Zendai Museum

By Sue Anne Tay

Your eyes do not deceive you. That hairy monster you see is Wu Gaozhong's latest. The exhibition, "Spectral Memory" is currently on at Zendai Museum of Modern Art located at Thumb Plaza in Pudong.

Wu is the same controversial artist who, as part of performance art, curled up naked inside the carcass of a freshly-slaughtered water buffalo.

The exhibit consists of carved wooden objects, replicas of every-day objects the artist carried with him for many years in his suitcase while traveling around China. They include his identification papers, suits, slippers etc. These objects all have tiny black hairs embedded in them. What is the significance of the hair, you might ask. They stem from bad memories as an 8-yr child afraid of the dark, and other terrible things. The hair is supposed to represent the kind of fear that "makes your hair stand" ... get it?

A word about Zendai. For many who shop and dine at Thumb Plaza, definitely take some time to amble by this treasure tucked away on the 2nd floor. They feature many prominent artists, mostly Asian, with eye-catching exhibitions that can't help but draw you in. There is a RMB20 admission fee for adults, RMB5 for students but Wednesdays are free.

Some photos of Wu's exhibit can be seen here. It runs to 20 June.

Shanghai Zendai Museum of Modern Art
No 28 Lane 199 Fangdian Road