|
Bat Project I & II, 2001 - 2002
Models, sketches, documents, photographs and videoclips
Both of Huang Yong Ping’s Bat Projects are original large replicas
of segments from the US spy plane EP-3, a.k.a. the "bat“,
which collided with a Chinese fighter plane on 1 April 2001 over the
South China Sea. Only after lengthy negotiations was the crew, which
had been forced to land on the island of Hainan, permitted to return
to the US. The Chinese took the airplane apart and allowed it be taken
back to the US in a freight carrier, but dismantled and packed into
containers. This was a humiliation for the superpower.
Huang Yong Ping created "Bat Project I", a replica of the
middle and rear portions of the airplane (20 meters long), for a French-Chinese
exhibition in Shenzhen in December 2001. In fear of hurting France and
China’s relations with the USA, the piece had to be removed before
the exhibition was ever opened.
"Bat Project II" was a replica of the middle
and front portions, as well as the left wing, of spy plane EP-3, totaling
ca. 15 meters in length. Due to pressure from the US consulate, the
work could not be shown at the 1st Guanzhou Triennial in November 2002.
|
|
|
|