Watch out for carpet burns... the ‘tiger-skin’ rug that's made out of 500,000 cigarettes

By MAIL FOREIGN SERVICE



Tiger feat: Chinese artist Xu Bing's art work made of more than 500,000 individual cigarettes designed to look like a tiger skin rug pictured in Richmond, Virginia



Made from 500,000 individual cigarettes and weighing an incredible 440lb, this mock tiger skin rug is the creation of master artist Xu Bing.

Currently on exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the painstakingly put-together tobacco artwork is meant to highlight global trade, packaging and how people are seduced into deadly smoking habits.



Top tips: Xu Bing's rug is currently on display at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond for an exhibition on how people are seduced into smoking



Designed through initial sketches laid out onto the floor of the Virginia museum, the tiger rug piece is the culmination of a decade long exploration of the tobacco trade for 56-year old Xu.

Known as one of China's most prominent and influential artists, the Beijing resident began his cigarette artwork at Duke University in the U.S. at the turn of the century and has delved into the relationship between smoking and packaging.

'Xu Bing: Tobacco Project explores the production and culture of tobacco as seen through the eyes of one of China's most ground-breaking contemporary artists,' said a spokesperson for Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

'The artist visited tobacco farms, warehouses and cigarette factories in Virginia to create the work for this exhibition, which also includes pieces from the artist's previous projects on this topic.



Addicted to his work: Xu Bing's tiger rug piece is the culmination of a decade-long exploration of the tobacco trade for the 56-year old



'Altogether, this exhibition spans 12 years and surveys one of his most ambitious undertakings.'

The artist chose Virginia to exhibit his work as the eastern American state is traditionally known as the home of mass produced tobacco products.

'Virginia's long history with tobacco makes Tobacco Project a particularly relevant exhibition,' said Alex Nyerges, director of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.



In his studio: Xu Bing holds one of his artistic creations from the 'Tobacco Project'



'Xu Bing is one of China's most recognised and celebrated contemporary artists, and we are pleased to feature this noted artist's work at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.'

Using tobacco as both a material and a subject in which to explore a wide range of issues, Xu Bing's work relates to topics from the global trade to the exploitation of tobacco.



source: dailymail