The Sleep of Reason

Beginning January 14, 2005, the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco will present Sui Jianguo: The Sleep of Reason, an exhibition showcasing the work of Sui, one of the most well-respected sculptors in China today. The 14 works on view—ranging from a 13-foot tall caged tyrannosaurus rex painted bright red, a fiberglass replica of Mao Zedong sleeping surrounded by 20,000 tiny plastic toy dinosaurs, and life-size renderings of well known Greco-roman sculptures clad in Mao jackets—are witty, incisive, and humorous. As large-scale works, they are intended to address a public Chinese audience in urban spaces once dominated by ceaseless sloganeering and propaganda, as well as an international audience eager to understand social, political, and artistic changes in China. On view through April 24, 2005, Sui Jianguo: The Sleep of Reason was organized by the Asian Art Museum and is curated by Jeff Kelley, visiting curator of contemporary art. The exhibition is accompanied by a full-color catalogue.