DOUBLE HAPPINESS

DOUBLE HAPPINESS IS A CHINESE ROMANTIC MYTH FROM THE TANG DYNASTY ABOUT A COUPLE WHO FOUND DOUBLE HAPPINESS THROUGH THEIR LOVE AND DESTINY. DOUBLE HAPPINESS IS A CHINESE CALLIGRAPHIC CHARACTER THAT WAS MISTRANSLATED ON ITS ROUTE INTO ENGLISH.

FROM MYTH TO CHINESE CHARACTER TO ENGLISH WORD, DOUBLE HAPPINESS HAS GRADUALLY ENTERED MAINSTREAM POPULAR CULTURE; RE-SURFACING AS BRANDING FOR CHINESE CIGARETTES, SOY SAUCE, TABLE TENNIS EQUIPMENT, CONDOMS, A BUS COMPANY, AN ARTISTS' COLLECTIVE, A FILM, AN AUSTRALIAN ROCK ALBUM AND A RANGE OF DECORATIVE GIFTS FOR WEDDING CEREMONIES AND CHINESE NEW YEAR.

FOR THE EXHIBITION, RED T-SHIRTS PRINTED WITH THE PHRASE DOUBLE HAPPINESS ARE PLACED IN A STACK AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE GALLERY. ON THEIR ARRIVAL, VISITORS TO THE EXHIBITION ARE INFORMED BY THE GALLERY'S DIRECTOR THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR A T-SHIRT IN ORDER TO ENTER AND THEY WILL HAVE TO WEAR IT UNTIL THEY LEAVE; AT WHICH POINT THEY SHOULD RETURN THE T-SHIRT BACK TO THE STACK.

THE T-SHIRTS ARE ON OFFERING CALLED DOUBLE HAPPINESS.

THE OFFERING IS ACTUALLY JUST THE WORKS TITLE REPEATED IN THE GALLERY BETWEEN 0 AND 200 TIMES PER MOMENTARY ENCOUNTER. THE OFFERING LOOKS LIKE A MULTIPLICATION OF GENERIC ART MERCHANDISE, AND ARE IN FACT INSPIRED BY TSHIRTS CURRENTLY ON SALE AT THE TATE GIFT SHOP, ADVERTISING A SHOW BY JOHN BALDESSARI. THE TSHIRTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR FREE AND ARE ONLY WORN FOR THE DURATION OF THE VIEWERS TIME IN THE EXHIBITION.

Images taken from 'Spasticus Artisticus' at CHG curated by the Visceralists (Jota Castro & Christian Viveros-Faune) Images: Natalie Hughes.