Yellow Ox Mountain: Reflections of Two Chinese Artists in New York 2006
Distributed by Filmakers Library, 124 East 40th Street, New York, NY 10016; 202-808-4980
Produced by Miao Wang
Directed by Miao Wang
DVD, color, 27 min.
Sr. High - Adult
Art, Asian Studies
Date Entered: 01/22/2008
Reviewed by Mark McBride, E. H. Butler Library, Buffalo State CollegeYellow Ox Mountain examines the lives and works of Zhang Hongtu and Zhang Jian-Jun, two New York City artists who immigrated to the United States during China’s Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) initiated by Mao Zedong and the communist party. Although their experiences differ their art is a reaction to life under Mao.
Zhang Hongtu was a young man during the onset of the Cultural Revolution and he was swept up in Mao’s communistic ideals of creating a better, equal world. He transformed from being supportive of Mao to suspecting him. Yellow Ox Mountain explores Hongtu’s journey as an artist and shows how he eventually came to terms with life under Mao through his work; significantly his highly acclaimed solo show “Material Mao”.
A young boy when the Cultural Revolution began Zhang Jian-Jun’s lived in fear under Mao. He studied western art secretly with a teacher who most certainly would have been jailed if he were caught. He shares memories of the Red Guard ransacking his parent’s house and of watching neighbors taking their own lives. His work tends to express peacefulness, as a reaction to those hostile and violent times.
Yellow Ox Mountain is well shot with stock footage from the last 40 years interwoven through the entire piece giving the viewer a sense of setting and time. The video editing and audio are done very well, and the original score is appropriately layered throughout. A worthy purchase for any library’s art, design or Asian studies collections.
Awards
- Best Short Film Award, Asian Film Festival of Dallas