Lin Tianmiao "Focus Series"

Focus Series, 2001, mixed media, measurements unknown

Focus Series (3), 2001, mixed media, measurements unknown

Focus Series (4), 2001, mixed media, measurements unkown

Images courtesy of Lin Tianmiao

I was first introduced to Lin Tianmiao through her Focus Series. I felt a connection with the artwork and if an artwork can speak to me through a magazine page...I can only imagine what I will feel when I see them in person. She currently has an exhibition at the Asia Society in New York City. I found an interview with Sun Yunfan that she did for Asia Society on her current show to give you all some insight into her work. 

Sun Yunfan: Your work often reflects an impulse to reconstruct, reorganize, or rearrange. Can you talk about this impulse?

Lin Tianmiao: I think to reconstruct is to present my interpretation. I am not trying to demolish things and build something new. I am just showing my understanding of or reaction to things.

Sun Yunfan: Though your work has often struck viewers as powerfully instinctive or even primitive, there is always a thread of technology woven into it. A viewer is always reminded of the now, either by a C-print self-portrait, a projection screen, or a fabric that looks unmistakably contemporary. Why do you choose to make these threads of technology visible in your work?

Lin Tianmiao: First of all, I have to have a physical response to an external influence to be able to create something about it. It is very instinctive. I have to have a bodily reaction before I want to express something. But on the other hand, like Lu Xun once wrote, "One can't grab one's own hair and break away from earth." Although in my daily life I still try to avoid the influence of high tech, it is simply unavoidable. Every day I see new technologies and possibilities, and they find their way into my work, sometimes as an accent, sometimes as a base, sometimes just as an effective tool."

Sun Yunfan: It is rather different from your other work; in this piece you are more like an observer gazing outward.

Lin Tianmiao: The embroidery frames are just one part of this larger project. We have another interactive part, where we posted many colorful round flyers in public toilets in the form of prostitution advertisements — "Want to meet a "three high woman? Call this number." And people would call the number. An answering machine would say: "If you are interested in meeting me, please come to this address on this date." They were the date and address for our gallery opening at Qianchang.

Sun Yunfan: Did people call?

Lin Tianmiao: Yes, many people called. But we didn't know who they were. The trick we used to invite people to our gallery was the same way people used to find sex. And when we exhibited at the Platform gallery, we made almost 900 round pins, each of which contained a printed phrase describing a certain type of woman. We piled up the pins in the gallery for people to take with them. But some were left unclaimed.

Sun Yunfan: Which ones?

Lin Tianmiao: The ones printed "prostitute" or "mistress."

To read the full article click here