Lanwei / Decaying End

22 January 2011, 10:30am - 6 March 2011, 4:00pm
St Andrews Museum, Kinburn Park , Doubledykes Road, St Andrews

22 Jan – 6 Mar 2011, FCA&C @ St Andrews Museum (Kinburn Park, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, KY16 9DP, tel 01334 659380; open daily April to September 10am to 5pm, October to March 10.30am to 4pm, admission free). MUSEUM CLOSED ON MON 7 FEB 2011.

Lanwei / Decaying End is the first solo photography exhibition by Stanley Wong, better known as ‘anothermountainman’. The photographs presented are part of an on-going project, documenting abandoned, incomplete building projects from across Asia. The exhibition looks at the economic down turn and its relation to the physical imagery of cities in China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia, Turkey and Singapore.

In the beautiful photographic images that Stanley creates the buildings loom empty and abandoned, but far from being literal documentary images they are also sites where captivating and mysterious scenes are staged. The scenes of figures positioned amidst a few of their possessions evoke narratives of dreams and aspirations which like the buildings have been abandoned. In the exhibition title, ‘lan’ means ‘decaying’ or ‘rotting’ and ‘wei’ means ‘the tail’ or ‘the ending’; it was a term used by people in China to describe these building projects that were never completed.

Born in 1960, Stanley Wong trained in Hong Kong and worked for 5 years in graphic design before following a successful career in advertising. He has a passion for visual art and his work often focuses on social issues. His work can be found in collections in Hong Kong and also the V&A Museum, London. In 2005 he took part in the 51st Venice Biennale.

Lanwei / Decaying End is a touring exhibition from the Chinese Arts Centre, Manchester.

ACCOMPANYING ACTIVITIES:

  • 2-part Photography masterclass for adults led by photographer and architect Colin Wishart, Suns 23 Jan & 13 Feb 2011, 1.30-3.30pm, St Andrews Museum, cost £10 for the 2 sessions (advance booking/payment required – see below)
  • 2-morning kids’ workshop on modelmaking & photography led by Bruce Pert, Thur & Fri 17/18 Feb 2011, 11am-1pm, St Andrews Museum, Free, for 8-12 year olds (booking required)
  • Family Fun Day to celebrate Chinese New Year – papercutting, calligraphy, a Chinese Wishing Tree, facepainting some of the Chinese zodiac animals (2011 is Year of the Rabbit!), Sun 19 Feb 2011, St Andrews Museum, 12 noon – 3pm, no booking required as it’s a drop-in activity
  • Chinese lantern making workshop for kids, Sat 5 March 2011, St Andrews Museum, Free, 1-3pm, for 8-12 year olds (booking required)

Please click here to download the Photography Masterclass info & booking form [73kb]

Please click here to download the children’s workshops’ info & booking form [77KB]

PLEASE NOTE – bookings will not be taken until 1 Dec 2010 and all must be made through St Andrews Museum (tel 01334 659380)