One Meter Democracy

One Meter Democracy

2010
12m
0.0

0.0/10

0 votes
Overview

One Meter of Democracy (2010) challenged the endurance of viewers, as well as the courage of the artist. In a quasi-democratic process, He Yunchang invited approximately 20 friends to vote in a secret ballot on whether he should have a surgeon cut a one metre incision the length of his body, from collar bone to knee, without anaesthesia. The vote was carried by a narrow majority, with several abstaining. The performance was documented in video and photographs that reveal the emotional cost of witnessing this gruelling event. This work, sometimes also known as ‘Asking the Tiger for its Skin’ was also staged on a symbolic date: 10 October 2010 was the 99th anniversary of the Wuchang uprising and the Xinhai Revolution which led to the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China. The final image shows the group with sombre, shocked faces.

Status: Released

Language: EN

Production Information

Production Countries
China
Spoken Languages
Mandarin

Quick Facts

Original Title 一米民主
Release Date October 10, 2010
Status Released
Language EN
Website Visit Site

Cast

Yunchang He
Yunchang He

Himself

Zhang Hui
Zhang Hui

Surgeon

Key Crew

Yunchang He
Director