Pan Jinlian Who Performs as a Rabbit Girl
Han Lei
韩磊
Production date
2008
Object Detail
Media
C-type print
Measurements
triptych 187 x 228 cm
Notes
Han Lei subverts the tropes of idealised beauty found in western oil paintings of the nude and in classical Chinese novels (Pan Jinlian refers to a character in ‘The Water Margin’). Instead, his lens is focused on ordinary women with imperfect bodies who could have just walked off the street and removed their clothing. Reclining in the guise of Manet’s courtesan, Olympia, or standing in a trio reminiscent of Rubens’ Three Graces, adorned with sequined fluffy bunny ears, knee-high socks or Panda slippers, they meet our gaze with disconcerting frankness and a dignity that belies their tacky accoutrements.
Accession number
2015.185