The cotton club
When cotton is used for art, what does it become? Eleven avant-garde Chinese artists have just kicked off a unique exhibition Natural World on the topic at Bridge Art Center. Director Ann Xiao's Sleeping Beauty features a romantic cotton bed with films projected on to it, showing girls' sweet dreams, in which they are playing on clouds and ambling in a flower-filled forest. Dong Li and Cai Shufen present white handkerchiefs with cotton flower patterns as a call for people to use handkerchiefs instead of tissues to save natural resources. Ray Lei designed a cartoon installation adapted from an old candy floss machine that screens the magic life of cottonseeds while also producing delicious cotton candy for visitors.
The show has even enlisted the support of pop star Barbie Xu in its promotion.
"Some people think individuals can't make a difference when it comes to environmentally friendly practices but we can take small steps like choosing more natural fibers and using less synthetic material," Xu said. "This small action not only benefits sustainability but is also practical."
