Liu Ding's Products project in action
For its summer show, the Arnolfini has been transformed from an arts venue into a 'concept store', capitalising on the consumer and cultural relationships produced by the shifting of the economic centre of the world towards the East. The store includes an ambitious programme of participation projects, off-site presentations, discussion forums, live art and film. A selection of specially branded and exclusive products designed by artists such as Liu Ding and Surasi Kusolwong are available for purchase.
Part concept store, part Chinese-style tourist 'museum', part forum for consumer reflection, 'Far West' provides customers with the experience of interacting with, producing and then purchasing, a selection of specially branded and exclusive products designed by artists. These items are made available within a theatrical setting designed in collaboration with Miessen & Ploughfields Architects, Michael Lin and Gunilla Klingberg.
The exclusive range of items on offer create real possibilities for art to play a fulfilling role within the customer's individual lifestyle. Products include SOI Project's Fruits project, inviting customers to create paper fruit by hand, in exchange for the real thing. Surasi Kusolwong offers a wide range of useful cheap plastic items as part of his One Pound Market, while the Unmask Group have designed a special toy prototype - a humanoid doll - which can be altered to customers preferred form. Yoko Ono helps customer's to recycle broken ceramics to create new artefacts, and so contribute to 'mending peace for the world'.
Liu Ding has created a limited number of unfinished landscape paintings for people to acquire and finish at home as a special extension of his renowned Products project. Seven Samurai offer a whole range of items created through their artist-led collaboration with rural communities in Japan, China and the UK. There is an interactive video jukebox of works by David Blandy, as well as a specially commissioned manga-style comic, while Support Structure provide the perfect CD soundtrack for the museum and gallery experience.
Artists are at the heart of the Far West ethos, the logo is even designed by the artist Xu Bing. Pierre Huyghe and Philippe Parreno's neon icon of AnnLee, the manga character, will give an understanding of the true potential of collaboration and cultural exchange. In the second floor project space, resident artist Janek Simon will present a recent work especially for the launch of Far West.
In a parallel presentation, a virtual metropolis, RMB City, has been constructed by Cao Fei within the online world of Second Life, made up of buildings from the 'new China', where a Far West franchise
will open.
Off-site, a Far West Metro store will open at The Mall Bristol, in the Broadmead shopping centre, incorporating paper Joss items, imported by Maverick Press.
'Far West' is the first in the Concept Store series of projects at Arnolfini, exploring the realms of marketing, design and experience economy.
Seminar
A message from our Chairman
Sat 26 July 11.30am - 4.00pm
In the spirit of transparency, you are invited to attend the board meeting for the Far West trading company. Items on the agenda will include an assessment of the launch of the flagship Concept Store at Arnolfini and future development of a network of franchise stores, reports on the current conditions of labour and production, and commentary on international patterns of development in culture and commerce. Speakers include Brian Holmes, Gao Shiming, and Shumon Basar.
Artists participating: Cao Fei, Liu Ding, Pierre Huyghe & Philippe Parreno, Xu Bing, Yoko Ono, Seven Samurai, David Blandy, SOI Project, Michael Lin, Surasi Kusolwong, Maverick Press, Support Structure, Unmask Group, Gunilla Klingberg, Janek Simon and Plan 9.
Far West
Until 31 August
Arnolfini
16 Narrow Quay
Bristol BS1 4QA UK
T +44(0) 117 917 2300
www.arnolfini.org.uk
www.farwest.cn
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