The Denver Art Museum asked family visitors to respond to the following prompts about artworks in the collection: Which artwork are you INSPIRED by? Which would you like to give as a GIFT to someone? Which artwork are you CURIOUS about? Which artwork are you CONFUSED by? Which artwork is your FAVORITE?
A big winner in the favorite category was Made in China, a sculpture by artist Sui Jianguo. This giant red dinosaur is loved by so many because of its size, color, and texture. Explore these learning resources about Jianguo’s captivating sculpture. These activities encourage looking, creating, and thinking together about size, where products come from, how we value toys or belongings.
Image courtesy of Instagram user @linneacovington.
Looking Together
We know it can be challenging to talk about art and we’re here to help!
Using this How to Talk About Art discussion tool, spend some time looking at Sui Jianguo’s sculpture Made in China and have a conversation with your friends or family about color, size, and where our favorite objects come from.
Image courtesy of Instagram user @mamarazziamy.
Creating Together
In the early 1990s, Sui Jianguo began recreating tiny toy dinosaurs, but in monumental proportions—that means really big! Inspired by Jianguo’s methods of transformation, create your own artwork and consider what are ways you can transform inexpensive or overlooked items in your life?
Check out this Art Exploration to inspire three different artful transformation methods and prompt a discussion related to topics explored by the artist.
Image courtesy of Instagram user @lamontsummeracademy.
Looking Together
Made in China, by artist Sui Jianguo focuses on China's exportation of goods. Jianguo’s intention is to get viewers to consider who makes the products we know and love, where they come from, and why. Jianguo stated about China's economic expanse, "In some ways is not good for China, for the environment and human life... I don't want him (the red dinosaur) to continue getting bigger."
In this thinking activity, kids are encouraged to think about how consumerism affects us personally.
Sui Jianguo, Made in China, 2005; edición 1 de 4. Fibra de vidrio pintada. Donación de Vicky y Kent Logan a la Colección del Denver Art Museum. © Sui Jianguo
