M+ Sigg Collection, Hong Kong. By donation, © Chang Xugong. Photo: M+, Hong Kong.
NARRATOR:
This work is called Got Money. Created by Chang Xugong in the year 2000, it is made using silk and rayon embroidery on cotton. The work measures two metres in height and 1.6 metres in width—roughly the size of a door.
The composition shows two men and a woman, depicted with East Asian features, black hair, and gaudy clothes. Their close resemblance and positioning give the impression of a family portrait—a couple in their fifties or sixties seated on a red bench, with a young man standing behind them.
All three individuals have bushy eyebrows, single eyelids, and flat noses. With full and rosy cheeks, they look forward with beaming smiles. The woman on the left, likely the mother, cradles a small white dog. Her side-parted fringe is neatly tucked behind her ears. She wears a red blazer with golden fur trimmings at the collar and cuffs, paired with green trousers. Next to her, the man, who appears to be the father, smiles politely with slight reservation. He has a black buzz cut and a high hairline that reveals a broad forehead. Stubble marks his upper lip and chin. He wears a purple blazer with a white pocket square, a lime green shirt, a red polka-dotted tie, and beige trousers. In his right hand, he holds a wired microphone, with a jade ring adorning his middle finger. Standing behind the couple is a young man, who seems to be their son. He has a round face, small eyes, and thick lips, and his subtle smile gives an earnest impression. His fringes are streaked with brightly coloured highlights, which contrasts with his plain appearance. He wears a cobalt blue blazer, a white shirt, a red tie, a brown vest, and a white pocket square like his father’s. The figures’ heads are surrounded by a golden white aura. Meanwhile, stripes of pale orange, red, and emerald green radiate from the trio, filling the entire background.
This embroidery work captures intricate details of the figures and the play of light in the background, creating rich and vivid layers. Chang Xugong commissioned artisans to create this piece using embroidery, a traditional folk art, and explores the idea of prosperity among farmers. The work invites us to question whether spiritual fulfilment can be found in material wealth.