Yi+Fan+No.2--Zhang+Peng

Yi Fan No.2 TItle: Yi Fan No.2 Artist: Zhang Peng Culture: Chinese Date: 2006 Dimensions:120x120 cm Medium:Photograph
 * Artwork Identification**

Yi Fan No.2 is a recent photograph from contemporary Chinese artist Zhang Peng. The artist often deals with issues of Chinese modernization, oppression, and identity. This piece speaks to a number of present issues in China including mass abortion and the current sex ratio of the country.
 * Introduction**

The photograph is staged in a field, under cloud filled skies while the sun sets. In the field are dolls that look and are dressed like young Chinese girls. They are all identically dressed in blue dresses that look like school uniforms, red scarf’s, and there are plastic bags tied around their heads. Some dolls have the bags tied around their necks, some are tying the bags around other dolls necks, some are tying them around the grass in the field, and some are tying them around their own necks. In the distance, to the right, stand power lines. On a formal level, this artist has used repitition quite successfully.
 * Descriptive Analysis**

The artist often uses the image of young children in his art. His intentions are to create a visual contradiction that represents the current problems in China due to the ever growing modernization. One of those problems is the gross overpopulation of the country. Due to the one-child policy, families are now selective about the gender of their babies. Traditionally, it has always been more productive to have a boy, and many families before the one-child policy would keep having babies until they achieved a boy. In order to ensure the birth of boy, families resort to a number of different methods. New medical technology has made it possible to determine gender of a baby in the womb, so many women are having early-term abortions if they discover they are having a girl. Many people have resorted to infanticide or abandonment (Timeinmoments.com, 1). This has led to a chain reaction of serious consequences. China now has the greatest difference in sex ratio, with males outnumbering females by 35 million (Timeinmoments.com, 1). Zhang Peng’s image of girl dolls with plastic bags over their heads, symobolizes the discrimination against young girls in China and the injustices they endure. On a formal level, this artist has used repitition quite successfully. Also the use of mixed media is used. Mixing collage, and photography.
 * Formal/Contextual Analysis**


 * Resources**

__Printed__ Johansson, A., & Lofstedt, P., & Shusheng, L. (2004). Abortion Patterns and Reported Sex Ratios at Birth in Rural Yunnan, China. //Reproductive Health Matters//, 12(24), 86-95. Retrieved from JSTOR database. -An article that explores the abortion rates and sex ratios through a study of the Yunnan Province in China.

__Online__ Powazek, D. (2009, April 12). //Sex Ratio in// //China// //as Boys Outnumber Girls by 35 million.// //Message posted to// []. (2009, April 12). Moments In Time Blog. -A blog discussing the current alarming sex ratio in China.

Yaohong, C. (2007-2009). China, art, contemporary: Zhang Peng. Message posted to []. (2009). Asian Photgraphy Blog. –A blog discussing contemporary Chinese photography.

Art Lesson 1

Title: Oppression and Inequality Grade Level: 9-12 Time: 1 week

Standards: ART.VA.I.HS.1 Apply acquired knowledge and skills to the creative problem solving process. (21st Century Skills: I.4, II.2) ART.VA.II.HS.3 Apply organizational principles and methods to create innovative works of art and design products. (21st Century Skills: I.1, I.2, III.3) ART.VA.II.HS.6 Use emergent technologies and materials to create artistic products that demonstrate knowledge of context, values, and aesthetics. (21st Century Skills: I.1, II.1, II.2, II.3, III.2, III.7)

Central Concepts: Oppression-1. Prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control. 2. The state of being subject to such treatment or control. Inequality- difference in size, degree, circumstances, etc: lack of equality.

Activity 1. Title: Oppression and Inequality Introduction Time: 1 Day Students will be introduced to the terms oppression and inequality. Discuss with the students the issues in China with mass abortions, and sex ration inequality. The students will then be placed into small groups and then describe the art work. Next they will describe the concepts present in the art work. The students will be given a worksheet that will focus their conversation. The work sheet would include question such as, What do you see in this art work? What do you think this artwork means? What medium did the artist use. Students would write down the themes that they feel are at play, as well as explaining how the artist has used certain media to express these ideas. Each group would then share there findings with the class.

Activity 2. Title: Oppression and Inequality Brainstorm Time: 1 Day Students would then in groups brainstorm possible forms of oppression and inequality in the United States to base works of art on. They would then compare these forms of oppression and inequality to the concepts at work in Zhang Peng's photograph, and discuss the cultural differences of the United States and China. After choosing the subject matter of their artwork, students would then begin sketching possible ideas for a composition and think of what type of imagery they would include in their final composition.

Activity 3. Oppression and Inequality Artwork Time: 3 Days Students will create an original work of art based off concepts from the brainstorming exercises using multiple scanned images from magazines. The students would use Photo Shop to manipulate the image, or use multiple scanned images to convey the concept. Their will be a demonstration of the basics of photo shop. How to scan an image, cut out a selection and place the image In a new document. Students must use 5 things that were cut out from magazines.

Students will be graded on participation in all three activities. They will be included in a classroom critique that the students will talk about the different artworks. The final product will be graded on 3 things, 1. Did the final artwork convey the idea of oppression and inequality? 2. Did the student have sketches and preliminary planning? 3. Did the student use 5 or more pieces cut out from a magazine?
 * Assessment:**