Laurens had his opening at Imagine Gallery, Bei Gao, yesterday [Sunday]. Interesting, highly polished work that looks at toys and gaming and global influences on local culture. For this show, he has done some work in 3d software inspired by the Beng Beng, the illegal taxis here in Beijing that are peddled by the owner [some have motor power]. He has also been looking at local traditional toys, which are likely to be less popular these days as kids, here as everywhere, have so much choice now. While much of the work is presented as 2d digital imaging plus an animation, he has cast some of his Beng Beng interpretations in reality [based on the 3d manipulations] and is hoping to realise a life size functioning version in the future.
