DOUBLE HAPPINESS 2010
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 'SPASTICUS ARTISTICUS' RED T-SHIRTS PRINTED WITH THE PHRASE DOUBLE HAPPINESS HAVE BEEN 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 ENABLE THE VISITOR TO VIEW AN OFFERING BY REBECCA LENNON, CALLED DOUBLE HAPPINESS. THE OFFERING, WHICH IS ACTUALLY JUST THE TITLE DOUBLE HAPPINESS REPEATED IN THE GALLERY BETWEEN 0 AND 200 TIMES PER MOMENTARY ENCOUNTER; TAKES THE APPEARANCE OF GENERIC ART MERCHANDISE ONLY WORN FOR THE DURATION OF THE VIEWERS TIME IN THE EXHIBITION. Spasticus Artisticus, curated by the Visceralists (Jota Castro & Christian Viveros-Faune) Images: Natalie Hughes. |