Time-Capsule Art Installation Inspired by Chinese Mausoleum’s Warriors
- At September 24, 2014
- By communitymaus
- In Article
- 0
The mausoleum of Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang is one of the most famous in the world, well known for its impressive eight thousand terra cotta soldiers guarding the tomb’s entrance. Now, some 2,000 years later, the mausoleum’s warriors have inspired a New York artist to create a politically themed art installation.
Prune Nourry, a Parisian artist based in NYC, has flipped the gender of the original terra cotta warriors and created 116 “Terra Cotta Daughters,” according to a report by CNN. The statues, which are on display at the China Institute from September 10 to October 4, were created to raise awareness of gender imbalances in China and the plight of Chinese girls. China currently has a one-child policy and strong preferences are given to boys over girls.
Nourry modeled the first eight Terra Cotta Daughters after girls she met at an orphanage in China, and local Chinese craftsmen created 108 permutations based on her original eight designs using a combination of features. Each statue weighs 260 pounds and stands five feet tall, featuring schoolgirl clothing and a modern hairstyle, but no two statues share the same features.
When the exhibition is over, Nourry plans to have the statues buried in China until 2030, when the number of men in the country is expected to so overwhelmingly outnumber the number of women that it will be hard for men to find wives. Currently, Chinese men outnumber women by 34 million. Nourry also plans to use the proceeds from the sale of the original eight statues to fund the education of the real schoolgirls they were modeled after.
Mausoleums as Time Capsules
It’s nothing short of fascinating to consider how Nourry’s archeological installation bridges the past, present, and future. Taking us back 2,000 years to a time when military might and masculine warriors commanded the respect of the ancient world, Nourry presents a stark dichotomy between the gender imbalances of the past and those of today. The installation also forces us to consider future implications of modern policies and compels us to imagine what sort of environment the Terra Cotta Daughters will emerge into when unearthed. What sort of lives will the eight original models be living as adults in 2030?
Like time capsules, mausoleums have the power to bring historical truths to light and teach current and future generations about past trends, policies, philosophies, and principles that brought us to our present state. As cultural artifacts that stand the test of time, mausoleums inspire us to consider our legacies and how we wish to leave our marks. We may not all be professional artists like Prune Nourry, but we do have the opportunity to create architectural masterpieces that inspire a new generation of artists: A custom design and private mausoleum construction from Forever Legacy does just that. Call (800) 298-4188 for a free consultation today.