Lanwei / Decaying End

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.

22 January – 6 March 2011
St Andrews Museum

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)
• 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)