By snoadmin
Bing, a Cal State Long Beach designer and photographer put his graphic art collection on display to both entertain and educate his audience about the history of China.
“Shape of China,” is a graphic art collection on display at the Maxine Merlino Gallery.
“I did a lot more research than in any other project before,” said Bing, a sophomore MFA graphic design student. “I normally just do photography but with [this collection] my intention was to inform.”
The photographs feature a female model dressed in the clothing of different time periods. The photographs span from 2070 B.C. to A.D. 1912.
The collection features an ink-drop water technique where the artist puts a drop of ink into water and as the ink spreads, he photographs it. Bing continued to drop ink until he could illustrate his various time periods in China.
Each photo combined the model, the drop-ink collage and a small informational section that informs the audience of a few highlights of the dynasty, including the name, the peek of rule and, of course, the downfall.
“I was surprised to see that all the pictures were feminine, even though some were holding swords and weapons,” said Carol Herzlinger, a docent at the University Art Museum. “It’s interesting to know what goes on behind the artist’s inspiration.”
The ninth piece is a video slideshow of the photos that come together one at a time. It begins with the model, then the ink spreads and the information box and a picture of the current landscape of China come up.
The video also displays a dot pattern of the Chinese dynasty before the ink begins to spread through it, highlighting the main cities and large towns of the era.
The photographs show different actions and emotions through the positioning of the models. The graphics involved in the pictures add ships, weapons and other important artifacts of the era.
“This is what grad school is about; it’s exciting moving beyond what you have done all through undergrad,” said Jennie Cotterill, CSULB alumna. “It’s gorgeous, and very well installed.”
The installation features an informational environment in which the audience was exposed to a different view of Chinese history. The pieces took the artist only one week to create but took a lot more time on research prior to the making.
“I want the audience to walk away with a better knowledge of the history of China,” Bing said. “People like it and hopefully experience history in a different way.”
Bing, who normally stays within the realm of photography, decided to expand in this exhibit and give his audience a little more to think about than just how good the photograph is.
He hopes to inspire people to learn more about their own native lands as he did and uncover the many things history has to offer.
“Shape of China” will be on display in the Merlino Gallery until March 8 at 5 p.m.
The student art galleries are open Sundays from 5 – 7 p.m.; Mondays through Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m.; and Wednesdays from noon to 7 p.m.
