Animating the Antiquated: Collective Performances with Song Dong’s Communal Courtyard
By Shellie Zhang
BASIL ALZERI (center) with participants of his performance
Last October, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) announced that it would be mounting an exhibition to showcase its newest acquisition by Beijing-based conceptual artist Song Dong, who is known for his multi-piece installations and performances that deal with the everyday. Comprised of 100 vintage Chinese wardrobe doors, Dong’s seminal installation Wisdom of the Poor: Communal Courtyard (2011–13) transformed the AGO’s Signy Eaton Gallery into a series of walkways and rooms reminiscent of Beijing’s traditional communal hutongs.
