Appropriation
Cultural Appropriation
One of the hottest topic today is cultural appropriation and even hotter is to decide how mad we should all be. Oftentimes, I found myself confused and indecisive on what is okay and what is not?
Why do I cheer for Nicki in “Chun-Li”, rapping about putting chopstick in buns, but boo Katy dressed in Kimono, singing “unconditional love“?
The more I analyze on the issue, the more I realize it is about the repression of minority cultures in a consumption-based society regulated by the majority groups. When an element from a minority culture is given more value when associated with a member of a unrepressed group, than on a minority member, it reinforce the unjust social structure and push us away further.
My initial approach to talk about appropriation is to flip the action of appropriation. I started taking imageries that were rooted in western societies and placing them on blue and white wares to produce a hybrid.
Borrowed imageries
I found a form, typical of Italian Maoilica and decorated with imageries I adored:
Baptism by Sebastiano Ricci
Keith Haring
Madonna from Material Girl music video
head of Medusa
Rick and Summer, in that one episode where they beat up a bunch of terrible people
Rupaul
Storm from X-Men, the comic where she finished saving the school and taking a walk in the sky
Adam almost touching God’s hand of course
By using imageries that have different expected connotations and values together, I planned to sprout a little offensiveness. This plan was not well received. But somehow, I can’t take my eyes off this confusing pot I made.
Warren Mckenzie
Thinking about consumption, I realized that I was unable to communicate my idea on borrowed/appropriated cultural elements partially because I was using a historical form.
When trying to copy a historical form, it is automatically read as a simple reference to history, an inspiration by a period/place in time. So I decided to appropriate something more contemporary.
These drop-rimmed bowls were appropriated from a form Warren Mckenzie often used.
Decorations
These bowls were decorated with Louis Vuitton patterns in Blue and White or Versace logos in Shino. Referencing to these luxury brands goes against Mckenzie’s style of decorations and whole concept of a humble pot.
However, the finished work fell short because of its barely recognizable references. If I am throwing punches, only people who got it would be people familiar with the American Mingei movement. That seems like too niche of an audience.
Voulkos
After Mckenzie, I decided to appropriate a more well-known form, the rocking chair of Voulkos.
Peter made one of this form, with very spontaneous touch and inventive construction. I standardized its look, shrank the scale and produced in number.
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So far, I am still trying to find a better way of talking about cultural appropriation.