Wim Delvoye’s Art Farm
Lissette Olivares
The Belgian artist Wim Delvoye, famous for the piece Cloaca–a machine which produces real faeces–is now using Beijing as one of his new centers for his notorious creations. An hour and a half away from Beijing’s main port, Dongzhimen, lies a small village called Cheng Jia Tou. This northern axis of Beijing boasts acres of green pasture, the sweet smell of dung and new crops, and a horizon of traditional red brick Chinese houses. Hidden within this quaint agrarian scene lies Delvoye’s latest project, Art Farm.
Surrounded by winding dirt roads, Wim’s Wonderland is not easily found, and a guide is required to reach the main entrance. Within a narrow passageway, protected by two marble statues of pigs, there are four-meter high gates with a triumphant Art Farm logo in red and gold. As you cross the threshold of the property, an entourage of onlookers lead you into the courtyard, where a patch of grass holds the main attraction of this theme park, the stars of Wim’s Art Farm: tattooed pigs.
Daily, one to three pigs are tattooed with a variety of designs chosen and created by Delvoye. The first series of 12 pigs, (which are now substantially larger than the new batch of residents) exhibit a collage of tattoo history, with "old school" American tattoos alongside Russian prison tattoos: Mermaids and religious icons are juxtaposed with macabre skulls and political slogans. The younger residents exhibit more transient motifs, and are primarily covered with colorful images including the Louis Vuitton trademark, flowers, medals, Disney characters, and even Wim’s logo.
Delvoye is a generous host, inviting visitors to observe the live installation he has created. Yet, apart from the independent guests, Art Farm is home to a community that helps Delvoye maintain his installation alive. With one production manager, two tattoo artists, one artist in residence, five caretakers, 24 pigs and Wim, Art Farm is a communal project full of biological life forms.
There are three permanent contributing artists: Moon Dai Qiu, aka. Ms. Moon, Lian Ji, and Cheto Castellano. Ms. Moon and Lian Ji come to the farm for three days every week, whereas Cheto Castellano, a Chilean artist, lives on the farm Monday to Friday. The artists work steadily, tattooing as quickly and perfectly as possible, tracing each line with care, and adding color and shading to the designs, which are already finalized.
During the weeks that Delvoye is on the farm the pigs are taken outside for sun, allowed to romp in the grass, and are fed sugar by the keepers and curators who come to visit. Delvoye is currently trying to find foster parents for the pigs, who would pay a certain fee to be able to watch their pigs from an Internet connection via web cam. "Pig Brother," Wim’s own version of a reality show, could certainly be one of the next broadcasts on the farm.
For those readers who are interested in observing the pigs first hand, the wait won’t be long. If Delvoye can find investors and a suitable location, a museum space and restaurant could be developed very soon. Delvoye hopes that in the future, any visitor to China could have the pleasure of watching his live "biological paintings."
