展览：毛主席的金色芒果和文化大革命

yangharrylg

Mao's Golden Mangoes and the Cultural Revolution

1968年，也就是发起文化大革命两年后，毛泽东把这场革命从热情但难以驾驭的学生手中夺走，交到更崇拜他的工人阶级手中。在这个转变过程中，他碰巧收到巴基斯坦使节送来的礼物——一篮新鲜芒果。作为慷慨赠予的象征，他把这种异国水果交给了一群工人。他的这一举动马上引发狂热崇拜。那些水果非但没被吃掉，还被尊为这位领袖神祗般爱意的象征。那些芒果经过防腐处理保存下来，成为崇拜对象。人们还制作了蜡制和塑料仿制品，供奉起来。一时间，芒果狂热席卷整个文化：这种黄色水果的图像出现在海报、瓷器和纺织品上。艺术史学家阿弗丽达·默克(Alfreda Murck)在华美协进社(China Institute)组织的“毛的金芒果和文化大革命”展(Mao’s Golden Mangoes and the Cultural Revolution)充分展现了那时的狂热。那种狂热没有持续太长时间，不到一年就过去了。之后，芒果纪念品被放进储藏柜，后来到了跳蚤市场。在北京居住多年的默克精心收集了一些纪念品，来讲述这个有趣的消费主义痴迷故事（展览持续到4月26日，东65街125号，212-744-8181，chinainstitute.org.）。

Mao's Golden Mangoes and the Cultural Revolution
September 18, 2014 – April 26, 2015

Around half a century ago during the Cultural Revolution (1966 – 1976), China was in a political “mango-fever.” In 1968, after receiving a gift of mangoes from the visiting Pakistani foreign minister, Mao Zedong sent the fruit to the “Worker-Peasant Mao Zedong Thought Propaganda Teams.” It coincided with a turning point in the Cultural Revolution from student-leading to worker-peasant-leading. Mangoes, an unfamiliar fruit at that time in China, became a temporary political symbol of Chairman Mao’s benevolence and love for the people. Illustrations and photos of mangoes appeared in publications, paintings, posters and badges, as well as on everyday objects such as mirrors, quilt covers and enamelware. Wax mango models were displayed in glass boxes to express respect for Mao, along with circumstances of the gift printed in red on the cases. By showcasing over 80 mango-related objects, Mao’s Golden Mangoes and the Cultural Revolution will explore the interaction of material culture and politics during this period.

This exhibition is organized by the Museum Rietberg Zürich and is curated by Alfreda Murck and Alexandra von Przychowski. The China Institute Gallery showing of the exhibition has been expanded to include loans from the Collection of Judy Manton and from an Anonymous Private Collector.

This exhibition is made possible, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and by the generous support of China Institute Friends of the Gallery and Sponsors of the Exhibition.*

http://www.chinainstitute.org/ga ... current-exhibition/