Building a Museum - Li Binyuan

Building a Museum - Li Binyuan

Building a Museum - Li Binyuan

An essay by

In July 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, artist Li Binyuan signed a labor contract with a construction team in Nanjing, and joined the construction process of a local grand art museum. He continued to work at an altitude of more than 200 meters for two months until completion. 

The result is the experimental and performative film Building a Museum in which the artist switches roles twelve times in 72 minutes. These twelve chapters, with titles like Two Shovels, Wheels, Fire Extinguisher and Comedian, describe how the 'Art Museum' is built step by step in a cinematic narrative structure combined with behavioral performance. Watching it, the subtle and smart reference to Chaplin's Modern Times is almost unavoidable.

More info on the artist. 


Still from 'Building a Museum' - Li Binyuan



Still from 'Building a Museum' - Li Binyuan



Still from 'Building a Museum' - Li Binyuan