Sheng Qi 盛奇

Interpretation

Here artist Sheng Qi 盛奇 holds a black-and-white photo of his mother in his left hand. His pinky finger is notably missing against a background of vivid red, a color symbolizing warning. In response to the 1989 Tiananmen Square political protests, Sheng cut off his finger and buried it in a pot of Chinese soil before departing on a self-imposed exile, allowing part of him to remain in the country he loved. This work embodies memory and loss, as well as defiance and self-determination. Sheng has noted: “Cutting off my finger was my proudest moment.”

Acquisition note

Art collector Larry Warsh began acquiring contemporary Chinese photography in the 1990s—a pivotal time for the medium in China. He recently gave the RISD Museum 26 works by Chinese artists active in the 1990s and early 2000s, including this work and four photographs by Cang Xin 蒼鑫 (on the adjacent wall to the left). These are the first examples of contemporary Chinese photography to enter the RISD Museum’s collection. Administrative support for Warsh’s gift was generously provided by RISD alum and donor Mark Pollack.

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