Xu Bing: Phoenix (2013)

Xu Bing: Phoenix (2013) poster

Drawing inspiration from the contemporary realities of his fast-changing country, Chinese artist Xu Bing spent two years creating his newest work, Phoenix. The installation features two monumental birds fabricated entirely from materials harvested from construction sites in urban China, including demolition debris, steel beams, tools, and remnants of the daily lives of migrant laborers. At once fierce and strangely beautiful, the mythic Phoenixes bear witness to the complex interconnection between labor, history, commercial development, and the rapid accumulation of wealth in today's China. The film Xu Bing: Phoenix documents the process of creating the work through to its installation at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASSMoCA).

Director: Daniel Traub
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 18 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Country: China, United States of America
Language: 普通话, English
Original Language: en
More Films by Director: Daniel Traub
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Xu Bing: Phoenix about?
Drawing inspiration from the contemporary realities of his fast-changing country, Chinese artist Xu Bing spent two years creating his newest work, Phoenix. The installation features two monumental birds fabricated entirely from materials harvested from construction sites in urban China, including demolition debris, steel beams, tools, and remnants of the daily lives of migrant laborers. At once fierce and strangely beautiful, the mythic Phoenixes bear witness to the complex interconnection between labor, history, commercial development, and the rapid accumulation of wealth in today's China. The film Xu Bing: Phoenix documents the process of creating the work through to its installation at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASSMoCA).
Who directed Xu Bing: Phoenix?
Xu Bing: Phoenix was directed by Daniel Traub.
Who stars in Xu Bing: Phoenix?
Xu Bing: Phoenix stars Xu Bing.
How long is Xu Bing: Phoenix?
Xu Bing: Phoenix has a runtime of 18m (18 minutes).
What genre is Xu Bing: Phoenix?
Xu Bing: Phoenix is a Documentary film.
Where was Xu Bing: Phoenix produced?
Xu Bing: Phoenix was produced in China, United States of America.