This is What One Man’s Life Possessions Look Like Reassembled

Tue, Dec 9, 2008

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My Things No 5, 2002

It’s uncanny how many people have a drawer somewhere in the house that’s filled to brimming with useless junk and paraphernalia, which only gets thrown out when it’s time to move. But as the saying goes, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Artist Hong Hao seems to have found the perfect solution for reusing anyone else’s garbage he can get his hands on.

my things 1
My Things No 1, 2001-2002

An innovative artist from China, Hao seems to get absorbed in rearranging things so that they present a different picture of what people perceive to be ordinary. In one of his best known pieces ‘My Things’, Hao uses commonplace objects to present a picture of his life over the previous 20 years.

my things 2
My Things No 2, 2001-2002

He scanned images of thousands of household items and things he used down the years then digitally rearranged them to produce a series of stunning photographs, and allowing us to have a glimpse into his life. There are a few stages and variations of ‘My Things’, but all equally compelling.

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My Things About Circle No 3

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My Things – Book-Keeping of 06, 2006

My Things 6
My Things – Book-Keeping of 06, 2006

Hong’s most recent piece was created to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Chinese Contemporary – a leading gallery in Beijing, which shows Hao’s works. He collected hundreds of ticket stubs from art fairs, saved images from artist’s first catalogues and included images of works exhibited in the gallery since it opened. The result is 10 Years Chinese Contemporary, pictured below.

10 Years Chinese Contemporary

Source Contemporary Chinese Gallery, Beijing via Ffffound

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artists china, beijing art, china art, contemporary art, hang hao, recycling art

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This post was written by:

Linda McCormick - who has written 175 posts on Environmental Graffiti.

Linda is a writer and editor, currently based in London. Growing up in N Ireland, she craved sunnier climes so set off around the world, forever chasing the sun. On her travels she discovered she was much more passionate about the environment than she realised – although never quite got the whole tree-hugging thing – and has always had a penchant for the unconventional and creative side of life, so working at Environmental Graffiti suits her just fine.

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