Chin Tsao’s work reinterprets the Rococo style and its influence of Chinoiserie.
Rococo and Rococo Chinoiserie expressed the final imperial luxury both of European and Chinese art histories. It represented a rich aesthetic fusion and the last culture peace before the exaggerated capitalistic colonialism.
In the contemporary map, Europe is a small old liberal corner in the rising authoritarian /patriarchy Asia continent which it’s in danger of the upcoming changing in the future. The exotism returns to the equal gaze in the distance. To imagine a vision of recreating culture, It needs a necessary act to break the bond between cultural identity and conservative nationalism.
By reinterpreting Rococo Chinoiserie, Tsao reflects the history of Eurasia and reconnected its issues. It reflects her post-colonial exoticism and the changing of power relationship in the contemporary culture.
In the live performance, she performed two music pieces “Dead Culture, Exotic As Hell ! ” and “ ¥ ”.
“Dead Culture, Exotic As Hell ! ” refers to the image of Opium addict which was an important symbol of the end of Chinese Empire.
“ ¥ ” refers to the dangerous drive in contemporary China. In the first part of the song, she is inspired by "Madama Butterfly". In the second part, her “gender” and voice switched, which implied the force of misleading capitalism and right wing movement in Eurasia.
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