| Title or content of the project: Beam Pumping Unit |
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Artist(s) / Organization(s): Shen Shaomin
Media(s): Installation
Date: 2008-9-9
Venue(s): Eastside of Central Square of Shanghai Exhibition Center (No.1000, Middle Yan'an Rd.) |
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Description:
The oil well which is ejecting indicates that the oil field is newly-developed and abundant in oil reserves. The beam pumping unit, on the other hand, is a device used in sucker rod pumping which has a horizontal member (walking beam) that is worked up and down by a rotating crank to produce reciprocating motion. The use of a beam pumping unit usually indicates the degradation of the oil field. Artist Shen Shaomin has done some modification to the transmission and the motor of the machine. Therefore the movement pace of the machine turns from stable and steady to irregular and turbulent. It looks like a very old man struggling to do what he is asked to. The installation is both a presentation of the reality in the artist's view and a warning he wants to spread to the world.
Special thanks to Tang Contemporary Art for their great support for the project. |
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