Situated just in front of the entrance to the Terracotta Warriors exhibition, Justin Lee’s homage is a cheeky nod to the mausoleum artefacts of the First Emperor’s tomb. The local artist’s collection of works is broadly based on the fusions of ancient and modern as well as East and West.
As a result you can expect some fantastically vivid visuals, such as his 12 terracotta warriors wearing bright red giant headphones, which brings to mind a sort of historic silent disco. Lee apparently based the figures on his superiors from when he worked as an aircraft technician, who would give orders through headsets. The red scarves that the warriors sport, meanwhile, are a flavour of communist China, a classic example of how his work strives to mix different cultures as a way of representing Singapore.
Other figures on display are described as “graceful fairy-like maidens armed with modern technologies”—while not the best description, is it nonetheless strangely apt, as Tang Dynasty female figures, dressed in traditional garb clutch objects such as a bright red laptop or handbag.
Even if you’re no history buff, we highly recommend checking out this show, as it’ll make you see the original Terracotta Warriors in a different light, and ponder how good ol’ Qin Shi Huang influenced future centuries of Asian culture.
Life After Death is through till Oct 30.
