"Waste Not"

Song Dong is a Chinese artist originally from Beijing, with his main focus being in installation art or art that the viewer would physically enter, which is also known as immersive or experiential art. One work done by Song Dong, which I find particularly enticing is "Waste Not". This piece which was on display at the Museum of Modern Art in 2009. After Song Dong's father passed away in 2002, his mother began hoarding items and became what one define as a "pack rat". This is very symbolic in the fact that it represents deprivation, attachment, and most importantly the loss of her husband. She kept everything including toothpaste tubes, bowls, birdcages, bottles, shoes and almost everything imaginable. I think this piece of art, although it is simply a collection of goods, is incredible because of the symbolism that stands behind it. This coupled with how the actual setup of this display within the Museum of Modern Art with the small Chinese shack surrounded by all of the goods is almost mesmerizing and extremely interesting.