Harvard Association for US-China Relations Second annual symposium: ‘The art of representing China’ Trevor H. Simon Invitational lecture: ‘Becoming un-Executed’ 3 rd April 2010 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _ ABSTRACT: Sociological interpretations of selected Chinese & American modern and contemporary art and their spiritual utility for the self and society Making use of selected Chinese and American modern and contemporary art imagery, Mr Simon will suggest a number of comparative interpretations to draw a deeply personal narrative, and will correlate these images with economic, financial and sociological data to posit spiritual linkages between art, finance and the self. Attention will be given to the real world relevance of selected imagery as it relates to the healthiness of a society, the conduct of the individual and the implications for the state of trust and fear within the self. It is hoped that this early stage work will enliven the wider debate as to the relevance of art imagery, the risks inherent in any copycatting of American norms in a Chinese context, and the leadership opportunities arising. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
How Chinese art shows American failings being imported
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1. Harvard Association forUS-China RelationsSecond annual
symposium: The art of representing ChinaTrevor H. SimonInvitational
lecture: Becoming un-Executed3rd April
2010_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ABSTRACT:
Sociological interpretations of selected Chinese & American
modern and contemporary art and theirspiritual utility for the self
and societyMaking use of selected Chinese and American modern and
contemporary art imagery, Mr Simon will suggest a number
ofcomparative interpretations to draw a deeply personal narrative,
and will correlate these images with economic, financialand
sociological data to posit spiritual linkages between art, finance
and the self. Attention will be given to the real worldrelevance of
selected imagery as it relates to the healthiness of a society, the
conduct of the individual and the implicationsfor the state of
trust and fear within the self. It is hoped that this early stage
work will enliven the wider debate as to therelevance of art
imagery, the risks inherent in any copycatting of American norms in
a Chinese context, and the leadershipopportunities
arising._____________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Speaker bio Trevor H. Simon Mr Simon is an art investor and
fund of hedge funds manager with an investment banking background.
Prior to hedge funds, Mr Simon was involved in private investment
as arranger, adviser &/or as joint or sole principal in a range
of sectors including media, financial services, leisure,
alternatives, ports, and art & collectibles. Prior to private
investment, to 2001 Mr Simon was Director and Global Head of
Strategy for the equities division of Deutsche Bank, and previously
was Head of Client Strategy at Socit Gnrale responsible for the
equities platform. Prior to strategy roles Mr Simon worked for
SG-Crosby in Asian institutional sales and as a researcher at the
World Markets Research Centre focusing on the Gulf region. In
addition to his commercial activities, since the mid 1990s, Mr
Simon has assembled and advised on a dual collection of Chinese and
American modern and contemporary art around a range of principal
themes looking primarily at the spiritual relationship between art
and finance. The Simon and BTC collections of acquired and reserved
works include: (Chinese) Zhang Xiaogang, Cai Quo Jiang, Yue Minjun,
Wang Guanyi, Li Chen, Chen Yu, Zhang Lin Hai, Fang Lijun, Tang Zhi
Gang, Fang Zheng, Guo Jin, Liu Ye, Feng Zhen Jie and Li Shan;
(American) Chuck Close, James Rosenquist, Marylyn Dintenfass, Wolf
Kahn, Andy Warhol, Richard Tuttle, Paul Wonner, Marsden Hartley,
Stuart Davis, Charles Sheeler, John Marin, Alfred Maurer, Georgia
OKeefe and Arthur Dove. A number of works are indicated for gifting
to European and US museums, and a separate sale program has set
multiple world records for various artists. Mr Simon has an
undergraduate degree in Management and Systems Science from City
University and has been invited as a Guest Lecturer to LBS,
NYU-Stern, Shanghai, Wharton and Harvard universities on art
investment and strategy.2 | Monday 18 January 2010
3. Introduction Story of Execution and execution Paradigm of
trauma and recovery Societal trauma Wrong God? - America Wrong God?
China Broken People Realisation and coping Recovery attempts
Integration The future3 | Monday 18 January 2010
4. Bigger is not better: over-messaging pollutes the soul
Source: National Grid, The Big Poster Company4 | Monday 18 January
2010
5. Introduction Story of Execution and execution Paradigm of
trauma and recovery Societal trauma Wrong God? - America Wrong God?
China Broken People Realisation and coping Recovery attempts
Integration The future5 | Monday 18 January 2010
6. Red capitalism: better service? better society?
how?Comparative equity-execution service paradigms symbolise the
seeming difference in comparativeapproaches to financial &
societal organisation One size fits all Differentiated offering
HIGH Revenue MED per trade LOW LOW MED HIGH Volume of trades6 |
Monday 18 January 2010
7. Commonality: a platform for collectivism or
individualism?Who am I really? How can I be heard? Or noticed? Sui
Jianguo, Mao Jacket, 2008 Rene Magritte, The Son of Man, 19647 |
Monday 18 January 2010
8. Introduction Story of Execution and execution Paradigm of
trauma and recovery Societal trauma Wrong God? - America Wrong God?
China Broken People Realisation and coping Recovery attempts
Integration The future8 | Monday 18 January 2010
9. Victim no more: happiness over success be yourselfTrauma and
recovery exists at the level of the State not just the individual
Trauma Is China Shame codependent Maladaption ? Control Denial Is
America in Low self esteem denial Dysfunctional coping ? Betrayal
bond Addictive behaviour False G-ds Are both Reaching bottom
recovering Recovery from trauma Search for identity ? Spiritual
opening9 | Monday 18 January 2010
10. Introduction Story of Execution and execution Paradigm of
trauma and recovery Societal trauma Wrong God? - America Wrong God?
China Broken People Realisation and coping Recovery attempts
Integration The future10 | Monday 18 January 2010
11. Shaky foundations Savings collapse Addiction treatment
leaps Mental illness grows U.S. personal savings rates, % U.S.
treatment centres, # DSM codes, #11Source: Bureau of Economic
Analysis | Monday 18 January 2010 Source: Bureau of Economic
Analysis Source: US Drug and Alcohol Service Information
12. Save me! Nobody to catch me... ...and will they be able to
hold me? Psychiatric resources Comparative obesity rate, BMI
>30%12Source: World Health Organisation, Mental Health Atlas,
2005 | Monday 18 January 2010 Source: World Health
Organisation
13. Live and let live execution no more Suicide an esteem issue
- comfort-eating shows poor esteem Rate per 100,00 population US v
China ratio of daily sugar consumer per person13Source: WHO |
Monday 18 January 2010 Source: United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organisation
14. Pity the childrenIncome vs child well being for developed
countries, 2009 Higher UNICEF index of child well-being Lower
National income per person ($)14Source: The January 2010 | Monday
18 Childrens Society Good Childhood report, 2009
15. Keep dreamingYes you can! - but its difficult Higher
Intergenerational income persistence - How far parents income
predicts their childrens Lower Child poverty rate15 | Source: The
Childrens Society Good Childhood report, 2009 Monday 18 January
2010
16. Tempers fray: TV and comity dont go togetherBehaviours per
degree of agreement that: ...TV is my primary form of entertainment
Worked on a community project Gave the finger to another driver
Average nos of occurences16Source: Bowling Alone, Prof Robert
Putnam, Simon & Schuster, 2000 | Monday 18 January 2010
17. Dreaming difficulties: intense denialThose aged 12+ needing
but not receiving treatment for illicit drug or alcohol use: 2006
Source: IPRS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Data Archive
National Survey 200617 | Monday 18 January 2010
18. Shaky foundationsU.S. private debt Source: U.S. Federal
Reserve18 | Monday 18 January 2010
19. Shaky foundations Who runs this place? Identity tsunami US
financial-industry debt as a % of GDP % of US labour force
unemployed for more than 6months Source: U.S. Federal Reserve
Source: The Atlantic magazine19 | Monday 18 January 2010
20. In God We (dont) Trust Failure of trust Cumulative U.S.
Tort costs and GDP growth,1950 - 2009 Percentage change Source:
Towers Perrin, Tort industry study, 201020 | Monday 18 January
2010
21. Are we having fun yet?21 | Monday 18 January 2010
22. Introduction Story of Execution and execution Paradigm of
trauma and recovery Societal trauma Wrong God? - America Wrong God?
China Broken People Realisation and coping Recovery attempts
Integration The future22 | Monday 18 January 2010
23. A bridge to a new God Joseph Stella, Study for Brooklyn
Bridge, 1922 Chartes Cathedral, France, various images23 | Monday
18 January 2010
24. New templesHeight development of the worlds tallest
buildings historically24 | Monday 18 January 2010
25. Too much choice, not enough leadershipx Andreas Gursky, 99
cent, 199925 | Monday 18 January 2010
26. False God as comfortThe diefication of consumption Barbara
Kruger, Untitled (I shop therefore I am),198726 | Monday 18 January
2010
27. Temptation masters man Jenny Holzer, Survival Series,
198527 | Monday 18 January 2010
28. Introduction Story of Execution and execution Paradigm of
trauma and recovery Societal trauma Wrong God? - America Wrong God?
China Broken People Realisation and coping Recovery attempts
Integration The future28 | Monday 18 January 2010
29. In Mao we trust.. (he knows better)Advance victoriously
while following Chairman Maos revolutionary line in arts and
literature Official poster, Chinese Communist Party poster, 196829
| Monday 18 January 2010
30. In Mao we trust... (he lives longer)Respectfully wish
Chairman Mao eternal life! Official poster, Chinese Communist Party
poster, 196830 | Monday 18 January 2010
31. In Mao we trust... (he is greater)Forging ahead
courageously while following the great leader Chairman Mao Official
poster, Chinese Communist Party poster, 196931 | Monday 18 January
2010
32. Mao as replacement deity Guo Brothers, Execution of Christ,
200932 | Monday 18 January 2010
33. Everywhere Zhang Hongtu, Front Door, 198533 | Monday 18
January 2010
35. but ruling is not a game Nancy Pelosi Speaker U.S. House of
Representatives Tang Zhi Gang, Children In a Meeting, 2002 Zhang
Hongtu, Chairman Mao 3, 198935 | Monday 18 January 2010
36. Introduction Story of Execution and execution Paradigm of
trauma and recovery Societal trauma Wrong God? - America Wrong God?
China Broken People Realisation and coping Recovery attempts
Integration The future36 | Monday 18 January 2010
37. Embedded rageAvoided shame maladapts into resentment
expressed as rage (or repressed leads to addiction) Guangyi, Second
set, 198537 | Monday 18 January 2010
38. Evidence of decay Zeng Fanzhi, Meat series, 1992 Liu Wei,
Who Am I, 200038 | Monday 18 January 2010
39. Implosion of personality dissolution of self Francis Bacon,
Self Portrait, 1973 Yang Shaobin, Fighting no20, 199939 | Monday 18
January 2010
40. Dissociation complete Zeng Fanzhi, Mask Series no 9, 200140
| Monday 18 January 2010
41. Introduction Story of Execution and execution Paradigm of
trauma and recovery Societal trauma Wrong God? - America Wrong God?
China Broken People Realisation and coping Recovery attempts
Integration The future41 | Monday 18 January 2010
42. The shot that kept on going Xiao Lu and Tang Song,
Dialogue, 198542 | Monday 18 January 2010
43. Trauma break, questioning, out of denial Luo Zhongli,
Father, 198043 | Monday 18 January 2010
44. Out of denial, denial of false identity Luo Zhongli, Father
(detail),1980 Luo Zhongli, Father, 198044 | Monday 18 January
2010
45. Reflation post-trauma: coming back to life Chen Yu, no 13,
2002 Chen Yu, no 17, 2002 Michelangelo, Creation of Adam, 151145 |
Monday 18 January 2010
46. Made in China: external identification Zhang Hongtu,
Mao_291, 200346 | Monday 18 January 2010
47. Western sources of differentiation Wang Guangyi, Political
Pop, 1993 Ai Wei Wei, dynastic vase, 200547 | Monday 18 January
2010
48. Consumerism: desolation, a spiritual desert Elmgreen and
Dragset, Prada Marfa, 200548 | Monday 18 January 2010
49. False pride and super size (insecurity) Marsden Hartley,
Finnish-Yankee Wrestler, 1916 Zhang Huan, My New York, 200549 |
Monday 18 January 2010
50. China takes in consumerism Sothebys, file photography,
198650 | Monday 18 January 2010
51. Un-trustworthy GodThe U.S. needing verbiage to stamp on its
Civil War coins, chose nothing less ethereal than "God.China, the
whole of China, grudgingly gave Mao the key to its freedom, its
spirit, and its life force. Xiu Mei, In Mao We Trusted, 200651 |
Monday 18 January 2010
52. Of little substance ZEVS Visual Attack (various) 2006 -
200952 | Monday 18 January 2010
53. Consumerism kills Cao Fei, xxx, xxx Jenny Holzer, Rib Cage,
200253 | Monday 18 January 2010
54. Glascine, flat-line, barely living Zhang Xiaogang,
Bloodline: The Big Family no 3, 199954 | Monday 18 January
2010
55. Comfortable as un-comfortableSearching for a new identity
classic trauma response Weng Fen, Health / Fashion / White Collar,
200055 | Monday 18 January 2010
56. Not as intendedProduce but love, still Xu Yong, Solution
Scheme D1 and D2, 200756 | Monday 18 January 2010
57. Chose house, not office U.S. women work because they must
Women as % of all women, 1975-1999 Work full-time for financial
reasons Work full-time for personal satisfaction57Source: Bowling
Alone, Prof Robert Putnam, Simon & Schuster, 2000 | Monday 18
January 2010
58. In sickness (but not in success) Three times more? PRC
divorce, %* 280% Divorce as a % of marriages increase in 2005 in
the US was 46% Feng Zheng Jie, Untitled, 2003 Note: Marriage rate
in the period stayed roughly constant with a 14.4% peak-trough and
6.4% maximum mean variance58 | Monday 18 January 2010 Bureau of
Statistics Source: PRC National
59. Alienation of the individual: controlled, powerless Yang
Jing, Lucky Fortune, 2004 Coca Cola Inc, Love It Light campaign,
201059 | Monday 18 January 2010
60. Personality fragmentationRe-integration vital.. mutual
trauma in American and Chinese society Zeng Fanzhi, We n:2, 2002
Chuck Close, Self Portrait, 198660 | Monday 18 January 2010
61. Not really long lifeButterfly effect61 | Monday 18 January
2010
62. Lofty ideals, ignoble realitiesOnly human Artus, Dude, 2007
Artus, Bitch, 200762 | Monday 18 January 2010
63. Use the past in the present (still broken) Yang Jing, Gong
Fu, 2006 Yang Jing, Fu Lu Shou, 200663 | Monday 18 January
2010
64. Walled inDefence as prison Zhang Lin Hai, untitled, 200164
| Monday 18 January 2010
65. Alienation of the individual: developed to deathCao Fei,
Diversionist, 2004 Cao Fei, City-watcher, 200465 | Monday 18
January 2010
66. Dissidence - guerrilla powerI have to speak for people who
are afraid! Ai Weiwei, White House, 1999 Ai Weiwei, Tiananmen,
200066 | Monday 18 January 2010
68. Nuclear (bomb) family68 | Monday 18 January 2010
69. The good life? Tempers are beginning to fray Number of
court determined economic disputes in China, million 29x increase69
Source: PRC National Bureau of Statistics | Monday 18 January
2010
70. Introduction Story of Execution and execution Paradigm of
trauma and recovery Societal trauma Wrong God? - America Wrong God?
China Broken People Realisation and coping Recovery attempts
Integration The future70 | Monday 18 January 2010
71. Shame accepted, the betrayal bond finally breaks Guo
Brothers, Maos Guilt, 200871 | Monday 18 January 2010
72. Questioning values Ai Weiwei, Dropping a Han dynasty vase,
200672 | Monday 18 January 2010
73. Integration of old with new Shao Fan, King, chair, 1996 Xu
Bing, Art For The People 199973 | Monday 18 January 2010
74. Then and now back to wholenessFrom glascine to glowing
Codependent no more: what a difference Recovery can make74 | Monday
18 January 2010
75. Introduction Story of Execution and execution Paradigm of
trauma and recovery Societal trauma Wrong God? - America Wrong God?
China Broken People Realisation and coping Recovery attempts
Integration The future75 | Monday 18 January 2010
76. History of humiliation76 | Monday 18 January 2010
77. Integration of art and self HIGH BROKEN RECKLESS Amount of
risk taking FEARFUL SERENE LOW Marylyn Dintenfass LOW HIGH GOOD
& FRUITY Degree of 2009 trust Risk Trust77 | Monday 18 January
2010
78. Trauma and recoveryNever forget national humiliation,
rejuvenate China! Gaining glory Civilisation Barbarism HONOUR SHAME
External Internal Processing humilliation78 | Monday 18 January
2010
79. Worlds collide:Ah Xian value summary East West Symbolised
by Buddha on a lotus Symbolised by Jesus on a cross Rule by man
Rule by law Centralised imperial power Democracy / civil rights
Intuition / meditation Intellect / analysis Self restraint Venting
Nothingness Success / riches Conform to nature Analyse nature
Acupuncture Surgical operation Passive ActiveSource: Breakout,
Melissa Chiu, Asia Society, 200679 | Monday 18 January 2010
81. Remedies (1) leadership of, by, self Art screams for
leadership of self Chinese identity must deliver what America has
not Responsibility rather than indulgence Take proper place on
world stage Shame is to be digested not avoided Harmony of self
(not society) cures society81 | Monday 18 January 2010
82. Remedies (2) nurturance, acceptance Respect art, dwell on
it, let it work on you Have a disconnection day Let go of shame:
past as platform, not prison De-programme from mass culture Enjoy
your century Rise in harmony with society and self82 | Monday 18
January 2010
83. Remedies (3) responsibility Target emotional poverty, not
just financial Target message pollution, not just environmental
Create community credits, not just carbon ones Send top 3 fears to
Google for emotion mapping Stand up, take your place There is more
to life than increasing its speed (Gandhi)83 | Monday 18 January
2010
84. Introduction Story of Execution and execution Paradigm of
trauma and recovery Societal trauma Wrong God? - America Wrong God?
China Broken People Realisation and coping Recovery attempts
Integration The future84 | Monday 18 January 2010
85. Shark infested watersGlobal sales of Chinese art at auction
Source: artnet85 | Monday 18 January 2010
86. The next art wave Chinas ownership of iconic America
Symbolic hegemony Fund being structured on 30 years work Change in
ownership, not culture Institutional product Iconic warfare
harmonious but decisive rising86 | Monday 18 January 2010
87. Now what? Kuhnian / BTC Trauma Sail America to China Art
Recovery Finance Own the top slice $350m novel structure87 | Monday
18 January 2010
88. Nothing to fear China America Empowered88 | Monday 18
January 2010
89. The future of Chinese identityKnow thyself You89 | Monday
18 January 2010
90. Harvard Association forUS-China Relations
______________________________________________ THANK YOU
______________________________________________Second annual
symposium: The art of representing ChinaInvitational lecture:
Becoming un-ExecutedTrevor H. Simon3rd April 2010