1. Xu Bing The artist explores the link between Language and Cultural Experiences.

2. Xu Bing Xu Bing was born in China in 1955 His parents were a professor and a librarian. As a child, he was surrounded by great literature. In school, he had to learn and practice the new official language of China ordered by Mao Zedong, the leader of China. At home Xu Bing’s father made him copy and Classical Chinese characters. For Xu Bing, Language came to be forces of authority instead of an important link to his cultural history.

3. Xu Bing Today Xu Bing creates art that reflects his experiences with language. In the 1990s he moved to the United States. His immigration influenced his artwork as well. Xu Bing’s artwork explores how language influences how we experience our culture and the cultures of others.

4. In what language are these signs written? http://www.echinaart.com/Advisor/adv_xubing_intro.htm

5. In 1994 Xu Bing did an exhibit called an Introduction to New English Calligraphy. http://www.echinaart.com/Advisor/adv_xubing_intro.htm

6. The exhibit was set up like a classroom with desks, chairs, practice books, pens and ink. http://www.echinaart.com/Advisor/adv_xubing_intro.htm

7. There was a video that introduced New English Calligraphy and taught viewers how to write in New English Calligraphy. http://www.echinaart.com/Advisor/adv_xubing_intro.htm

8. This was a written “language” invented by the artist. He redrew English words to look like square Chinese characters. http://www.echinaart.com/Advisor/adv_xubing_intro.htm

9. What happens when Xu Bing combines English words and Chinese characters? How do the English speakers feel? How do the Chinese speakers feel? So why did he do that?

10. Now can you read the words “men” and “women”? http://www.echinaart.com/Advisor/adv_xubing_intro.htm

11. An Introduction to New English Calligraphy Xu Bing created this exhibit so that viewers could create an experience for themselves about learning a new language. When we learn our language, we learn how to read words across. In the Chinese language, characters looks square-ish and are read top to bottom.

12. An Introduction to New English Calligraphy When we read a new language we have to unlearn what we know, then learn a new language. We feel alone and uncomfortable, but that feeling is self-induced. Xu Bing wants us to experience that feeling and apply it to how we feel about others cultures. We only feel distant from people of other cultures and uncomfortable learning about them because we choose to feel that way.

13. What does this one say? Made in Asia Xu Bing 2001 http://www.jhfc.duke.edu/ducis/made-in-asia/fr_scroll.html

14. Integration and Irresistible http://www.artbeatus.com/artists/XuBing/XB-039.jpghttp://www.artbeatus.com/artists/XuBing/XB-037.jpg