From the VernissageTV Archive (2007): Cao Fei: National Father – Guo Fu, 2006. Vitamin Creative Space, Art Basel 2007 Unlimited. Basel (Switzerland), June 12, 2007.
In my project National Father, I am acting as curator for my father Cao Chon-gen's solo show. He is a Chinese artist who has created a great many of Sun Yat-Sen's portrait statues. In Mainland China, Sun Yat-Sen was recognized as the 'forerunner of the democratic revolution,' and in Taiwan he was called 'National Father.' Sun Yat-Sen is the only public figure who is highly regarded and respected by both sides, both on the mainland and in Taiwan. Under two different kinds of ideology, Sun Yat-Sen was recognized and described in two versions: one originating in Mainland China and the other in Taiwan. The concept that I invite my father to follow in presenting the sculptures of Sun Yat-Sen is to look at the relationship of 'Nation and Father,' one is nation and another is family; one is father of a nation and another is father of a family. The project inspires me to rethink history, nation, and a kind of emotion and spirit that is beyond history and nation. Though some critics call me an artist of Generation Y, what I am interested in now is how this generation will rebuild their view of history after growing up. Looking for history is the process of looking for myself, as well as looking for a direction allowing me to leave behind my thoughts and questions about the reality live in today. (Cao Fei)
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