Replica of Venus de Milo
Zhu Cheng, Venus de Milo, 2010. Panda feces mixed
with plaster and vegetable-based glue. 2ft(61cm)
About Zhu Cheng:
He is one of China’s busiest public artists. He
displays public sculptures in and around Chengdu. His work mixes the
traditional with the modern and is widely acclaimed in China. Several visitors
travel to Chengdu to see his sculptures in public parks and there is even a Zhu
Cheng Tourism Route.
About the Piece:
Cheng directed a group of students from the city of
Chengdu to create a replica of the Venus de Milo out of giant panda excrement.
The city is home to a breeding center for the pandas, allowing easy access to
the material. Cheng explained in an LA Times article, “Venus is a beautiful
figure. But by creating the statue out of excrement, we set up an internal
conflict between beauty and waste that makes for a magical work of art.”
The piece was recently purchased by a Swiss
collector for 300,000 yuan ($45,113). That’s a lot of money to spend on a piece
of crap.
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