Eclectic artist brings exhibit to Chinese mainland

Gary Baseman takes pride in the weird and wonderful. Photos provided to Shanghai Star

Innovative United States artist is bringing his weird and wonderful creations to the Chinese mainland. Zhang Kun reports.

Remember the monsters that kept you awake at night when you were a child? The ones that hide under your bed and inside your wardrobe?

Gary Baseman brings them alive in the bright light of day. The United States artist, illustrator, animator and toy designer is having a retrospective exhibition at the chi K11 Art Museum, presenting more than 100 artworks created during his 30 years' career.

Among his creations is Dumb Luck, a rabbit that holds a lucky rabbit's foot which is his own, amputated leg, the Happy Idiot, a snowman who melts himself down to make a puddle of water for his beloved mermaid to live in, and Chou Chou, a pink spirit that takes away negative energy and hatred, turns it into creamy goo that oozes out of his belly button, to name just a few.

These creatures are on show as 3D sculptures, drawings and video projections, in displays that are designed to look like a home.

Baseman even brought furniture from his parents' home in Los Angeles to make the living room, dining room, bedroom look more real and feel accessible for visitors.

This is his debut exhibition in the Chinese mainland. The retrospective, named Gary Baseman: The Door Is Always Open, was held at MoCA Taipei earlier this year.

"Gary started out in illustration and he has transitioned into many fields of art. He has been working in fine arts for 15 years," says Denise A. Gray, curator of the show. Gray has worked at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Los Angeles for 12 years.