Li Mu: A Man, a Village, a Museum

Incorporating texts from his diary, photographs, and drawings, Chinese artist Li Mu (b. 1974) tells the story of the inception, development, and completion of a unique art project he embarked on in 2012. Inspired by a brief residency at the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Li Mu re-created Western modernist artworks by artists Sol LeWitt, Dan Flavin, Richard Long, Andy Warhol, Daniel Buren, Carl Andre, Ulay, and Marina Abramovic in carefully chosen locations in his hometown, Qiuzhuang, a small village 800 kilometers south of Beijing. For more than a year, he engaged the villagers in discussions about the artworks. Organized by season, Li Mu's narrative conveys the thoughtful character and inquiring attitude that initiated and guided the process from beginning to end. Along with a foreword by Abbemuseum director Charles Esche, interviews with the artist, reviews, photographs, and Li Mu's watercolor-and-ink drawings, this journey makes a great read.