Cultural Warriors

Question 1

Echo (2005):

What is its main idea?

Answer 1

Effects of the past still linger on into the present and the East and West are different

Question 2

Echo (2005):

How is the historically invasive nature of the West shown?

Answer 2

Black silhouettes represent the indigenous who are being conquered and the appropriation of ‘Landing of Captain Cook 1770’ by E. Phillips Fox (1901)

Question 3

Echo (2005):

How is Guan Wei’s heritage as a foreigner expressed?

Answer 3

The many panels of paintings which look like traditional Chinese scrolls

Question 4

Echo (2005):

How is the duality of Eastern and Western cultures shown?

Answer 4

Appropriation of Australian ‘Landing of Captain Cook 1770’ by E. Phillips Fox (1901) and Chinese ‘Jiu Ri Shi Cheng Tu Juan’

Question 5

Echo (2005):

How does the work connect the past to the present and shows the past’s lingering effects

Answer 5

Red military scopes which are of contemporary origin

Question 6

Echo (2005):

Give me a quote;

Answer 6

“I use my Chinese eyes to create Australian Stories” - Guan Wei

Question 7

Echo (2005):
What do the black silhouettes represent and what is the significance of the appropriation of ‘Landing of Captain Cook 1770’ by E. Phillips Fox (1901)?

Answer 7

Shows the historically invasive nature of the West

Question 8

Echo (2005):

What do the many panels of paintings which look like traditional Chinese scrolls show?

Answer 8

Guan Wei’s heritage as a foreigner

Question 9

Echo (2005):
What is the significance of this being an appropriation of Australian ‘Landing of Captain Cook 1770’ by E. Phillips Fox (1901) and Chinese ‘Jiu Ri Shi Cheng Tu Juan’?

Answer 9

Shows the duality of Eastern and Western cultures

Question 10

Echo (2005):

Why are the red military scopes incorporated into the painting?

Answer 10

Connects the past to the present and shows the past’s lingering effects

Question 11

Echo (2005):

“I use my Chinese eyes to…

Answer 11

…create Australian Stories” - Guan Wei

Question 12

Echo (2005):

Aspects of the cultural frame include?

Answer 12

• Chinese motifs i.e. clouds, mountains, fog
• Australian iconography with Captain James Cook landing on Australia
• Contemporary world with red scopes
  Colonisation
• Western expansion verses Chinese introspection

Question 13

Journey to Australia (2013):

What is the main idea?

Answer 13

The journey to Australia is perilous and we should show pity for the refugees who are struggling with the immigration laws

Question 14

Journey to Australia (2013):

How is the danger of the journey to Australia shown?

Answer 14

Mythical sharks with cartography aesthetics which were used to warn sailors in the past

Question 15

Journey to Australia (2013):

How is Australia’s exoticism shown?

Answer 15

Exotic animals and peoples on the island seen through silhouettes and native animals

Question 16

Journey to Australia (2013):

How does Wei explicitly express his connection between contemporary migration and the first fleet?

Answer 16

The work is site specific made near Botany Bay in the Contemporary Art Museum

Question 17

Journey to Australia (2013):

In what way is the powerlessness of the migrants entering Australia shown?

Answer 17

The motif of pink fattened figures that are used to symbolise powerlessness and are ambiguous

Question 18

Journey to Australia (2013):

Give me a quote;

Answer 18

“As an Australian immigrant, and as an artist, I am able not only to identify with but also help to relate and bear witness to the [the refugees] solemn, stirring and tragic story” - Guan Wei

Question 19

Journey to Australia (2013):

What is the significance of the mythical sharks with cartography aesthetics?

Answer 19

Expresses the danger of the journey to Australia

Question 20

Journey to Australia (2013):

What do the exotic animals and peoples on the island convey?

Answer 20

Australia is an exotic land

Question 21

Journey to Australia (2013):

Why was the work site specific to Botany Bay in the Contemporary Art Museum?

Answer 21

Explicitly express his connection between contemporary migration and the first fleet

Question 22

Journey to Australia (2013):

The motif of pink fattened figures signify what?

Answer 22

The ambiguous identities of the struggling migrants and their powerlessness

Question 23

Journey to Australia (2013):

“As an Australian immigrant, and as an artist, I am able not only to identify with…

Answer 23

…but also help to relate and bear witness to the [the refugees] solemn, stirring and tragic story” - Guan Wei

Question 24

Journey to Australia (2013):

Aspects of the cultural frame include?

Answer 24

• Chinese motifs i.e. clouds, mountains, fog
• Traditional European cartography i.e. fantastical sharks
• Gadigal people
• Site specific, near botany bay
• Refugee groups
• Immigration