A lady with plastic bags wrapped around her body is often seen lying around Lan Kwai Fong lately, whom we call the ‘performance artist’ among friends. Japanese artist Tatsumi Orimoto walks on the street wearing French stick too, I suspect, similar effect. This bizarre behaviour bestows a new personality, or a way to communicate. He chooses to respond to the shocked passer by the complete absent of any.
Born in 1946, Tatsumi Orimoto was the assistant to Nam June Paik while studying in America. The artist was also a ‘Fluxus’ activist, created many art work base on communication. Apart from Orimoto’s main work ‘Bread Man’ (1991), he is also known for the ‘Art Mama’ series. Orimoto appears to make fun of his mother in this body of work, a Alzheimer’s disease and depression patient. He put a tyre around her, placed his leg beside her mouth, or took her out accessorised with a walking stick and dramatically oversized shoes. Mrs. Orimoto maintained the same emotionless expression and body language, blissfully unaware of her son’s ‘arrangement’. The artist started looking after his mother 24 hours a day since 1977. The photo series is a physical record of the aging process of his beloved, as well as the intimacy between a mother and a child.
This is the debut of Orimoto in China. Bread Man will be brought back to live action in Central, Hong Kong.
Text: Ron Lam | Translation: dilettante
Photo Courtesy: Para-site
Update: 16 Jan 2009
BREAD-MEN WALKING IN HONG KONG CITY (PERFORMANCE)
Date: 16 Jan 2009
Time: 5pm
Venue: From Para/Site Art Space to Graham Street Market Sheung Wan
FINGER DOLLS (LECTURE & SMALL PERFORMANCE)
Date: 17 Jan 2009
Time: 3pm
Venue: Para/Site Art Space
