Closing: COSPlayers April 9, 2005

COSPlayers
CAO FEI
March 4?April 9, 2005

Lombard-Freid Fine Arts is pleased to announce the first New York solo exhibition by Cao Fei, a young Chinese artist who was described in an recent essay written by Hou Hanru as ?one of the most remarkable and powerful artists of her generation.?

Graduating in 2001 from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in southern China, Cao Fei was instantly acclaimed for the screening of her first video titled Imbalance 257. Shot while still in her junior year in college with no filming experience but an innate feel for the medium, the video became an immediate success. The following works, Chain Reaction (2000), Rabid Dogs and Hip Hop (both 2003) built her reputation, which led to her inclusion in international exhibitions and film festivals. 

COSPLAYERS (DVD, 8 minutes, 2004), Cao Fei's most recent project, consists of a video installation presented on a double-sided projection screen and a series of digital C-prints.

COSPLAY is a game in which fans of anime characters put on skits. First, one has to identify a revered character. Then one has to fabricate the costume out of improvised materials. Finally, one has to test the costume to assess the character?s skills.

The video plot follows a group of anime obsessed Chinese teenagers adorned in costumes they think will grant them magical powers. As they traverse the cityscape, combat within their imaginary world and return to their parent?s houses. Still disguised in the costumes of their fantastic alter egos, they day-dream about COSPLAY in their own sub-cultural cocoon.

http://www.lombard-freid.com/