24 Hour Museum - official guide to UK museums, galleries, exhibitions and heritage
Gateway to Over 3,000 UK museums, galleries and heritage attractions
Skip to navigation
Chinese Artist Takes A Cabbage For A Walk Round Manchester
By Rebecca Duncan
11/04/2008
Image: A photograph of people walking cabbages and protesting about war
Han Bing, Walking the Cabbage (detail). Performative Intervention Project (2000-2008) . © the artist
This Saturday, April 12, one hundred people will be walking cabbages round Manchester to highlight the plight of the marginalised.
The group of volunteers will be lead by Chinese artist Han Bing, who will set out at 11am from Cornerhouse and finish back there two hours later.
Walkers will also wear or bring something in the walk that expresses a sense of who they are or who they would like to be in order to celebrate freedom of expression.
Han Bing is best known for his ongoing series Walking The Cabbage, which over the last eight years has seen him walk the cabbage in many different public spaces and social settings.
Image: A photograph of a man with some cabbages and chickens
Han Bing, Walking the Cabbage (detail). Performative Intervention Project (2000-2008). © the artist
He uses the cabbage to symbolise the poor, as it is part of the staple diet of urban Chinese. He is also referencing the idea of walking a cabbage on a lead in the place of a dog, which has become a symbol of the emerging class of new rich in his native China. The cabbage questions what is valuable or worthless in Chinese society.
Reactions to Walking The Cabbage vary from outbursts that “freedom lives” to concerns about wasting food and animal rights. Some people even bark or pet the cabbages.
The walk is part of the UK’s first Asian Art Triennial, which continues until June 1 2008 and takes place throughout Manchester.
E-news registration
E-mail story to a friend
Tell us what you think
National Portrait Gallery Acquires Tudor Double Portrait
Sheffield Metal Master Wins Museum's Inaugural Design Award
DCMS Launches Consultation Into The Future Of World Heritage Sites
A Selection Of Festive Fairs - Fun Days and Exhibitions
Royal Society Announces Plans For 350th Anniversary
Art Website ArtisanCam Wins Coveted Children's BAFTA
Former Floorboards Of Founding Father Franklin Facilitate Funny Four
Mark Leckey Wins The 2008 Turner Prize And Scoops £25,000
Library Thief Update: Sentencing Adjourned Until January 16, 2009
Fund Aims To Realise Long-Standing Campaign For Cardiff City Museum
Culture Secretary Slaps Export Ban On George I Chandelier
Shakespeare's Globe Costumes Go On Show In Nottingham
Britglyph Art Campaign Uses Web To Make Mass Geoglyph
Inaugural Awards Ceremony Honours UK Arts Philanthropists
Rare Silver Cup Commemorating Coronation Of Charles II Is Saved For The Nation
London Fire Brigade Museum Escapes Closure - For Now
Another Busy Year For Archaeology On Orkney In 2008
Severndroog Castle To Be Restored Thanks To Lottery Grant
Search this site
Home Page
News Page
Exhibition Page
What's On
Trails Page
Website of the Week
Letters Page
Welsh Home
Graphical Version
Copyright © 24 Hour Museum
Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.