yi zhou + pharrell williams the greatness

yi zhou + pharrell williams   the greatness still from 3D animation ‘the greatness’

following her 2009 video ‘the ear’ which starred pharrell williams, chinese contemporary artist yi zhou  is teaming up once again with the recording artist for an upcoming project entitled ‘the greatness’.zhou’s latest 3D animation ‘the greatness’ transforms pharrell williams into a vase. the film is based on layers of a video game program and advanced 3D programming research and begins with a surreal, striking and unexpected explosion of the pharrell williams vase. as the vessel disintegrates, williams’ face breaks into a cubist-influenced composition. its disappearance leads the spectator on a journey through a  frightening labyrinth underworld.

still from 3D animation ‘the greatness’

as with most film noir / fiction, the lead often exits the scene through death. zhou says, ‘the actual vase was made from a 3D scan of pharrell’s body, then I modelled it in 3D to turn it into a greek-style urn vase resembling a surreal mask. I like to take virtual characters out of my movies and turn them into tangible sculptural pieces. pharrell is a modern icon, so by imagining his face breaking up, it emphasizes the emotional side to how he’s regarded as an icon, and the idea of mortality that we all have to face, which puts us all on a level-footing as human beings. ‘the greatness’ continues with zhou’s exploration of film with sculpture. based on a clay model made in her  shanghai studio, the vase represents a transition from a simulacrum into the real world, as a reality simulacrum.

still from 3D animation ‘the greatness’

‘the greatness’ will debut thursday, september 2nd, 2010 at 20 hoxton square projects in collaboration with testori UK as part of zhou’s first solo show in london. curated by rachael barratt and adam waymouth, the exhibition is entitled ‘I am your simulacrum’ and will showcase the artist’s work from 2006 to present. both ‘the greatness’ and ‘the ear’ will be featured as part OPEN 13 at the international exhibition of sculpture and installations in venice, italy from september 1st to october 3rd, 2010. the acheronte traveller, a sculpture that is featured in ‘the greatness’, will form the centrepiece to zhou’s installation there.

still from 3D animation ‘the greatness’

yi zhou was brought up in rome and now lives and works between paris and shanghai. her ambitious artistic expression blends: mythology, philosophy, literature, imagination and technology,  which are deeply rooted in the eastern and western cultures she spent her childhood traversing between. her work exists in multiple layers as real and unreal, ancient and present colliding through a process of construction, deconstruction, recreation and transformation. the composition of her work is also multi-faceted, as she draws upon the varied disciplines of: film, digital animation, photography, sculpture, drawing, painting and musical composition in her large multi-media installations. ‘the greatness was produced by contrasts gallery in partnership with MK2. the soundtrack was recorded at  morricone’s studio in rome in early 2010.