About a month or so ago, the delightful and, um................................... spirited Michel of Facts Are Strictly Optional sent me a hat from her embassy in Sudan. If you've ever read Michel's blog you'll know she has a special place in her heart for my country, a description of which I'm sure you could find in the lyrics to "Blame Canada." So, I wanted to take a picture of it somewhere special but was having problems coming up with just the right place to do it. Then I was reminded of certain elements of the right wing in the States and how they like to point at Canada and accuse us of being socialists, what with our universal health care and... actually, I'm not sure what else. Gay marriage? Lax marijuana laws? The fact that we can vacation in Cuba during the winter?
Anyway, then I though, hey, how about if I took a picture of it beside a gigantic statue of Lenin's head?
And then I thought, wouldn't it be cool if that big Lenin head had a smaller statue of Chairman Mao standing on his head, balancing himself with a big stick?
And then I thought, wouldn't it be even better if that little statue of Chairman Mao had breasts? (might want to click on it to enlarge) (the picture, not the breasts)
Rock on, comrades!
The piece is called "Miss Mao trying to poise herself at the top of Lenin's head," by the Gao Brothers and is part of an public art exhibition here. The Gao Brother's had family who suffered under the Cultural Revolution so they have an interesting take on Mao, hence the breasts.
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hmm I really don't know what to say about that, but I wanted to be the first.......and I want me some red mittens, even though I see them everywhere I go, I want free ones! remember I have a fractured arm, feel sorry for me!! :(
ReplyDeleteHEY! The hat looks cold!!! Obviously Canada does not believe in humane treatment of foreigners...Just as I suspected!!
ReplyDeleteAre you sure you should wear that hat in public? What if people think you're (a) American; and/or (b) a USG employee!
PS I do blame Canada...I'm from Montana. One of the northern States wherein the residents have been instructed to keep a close eye on Canada - you know what you did.
PPS it's been getting down to almost 70 degrees here at night. I NEED those mittens. It's the right thing to do...
ReplyDeleteThat statue needs a monkey on a unicycle on top of Miss Mao's head. I don't know why exactly, but I'm sure there is a political metaphor in there somewhere.
ReplyDeleteAnd why does Miss Mao look so much like Mr. Mao? Sorry Chairman Mao. Yikes.
i vote for the monkey on a unicycle! lol.
ReplyDeleteI'm just looking around for a place to visit that has NO SNOW.
ReplyDeleteThat's hilarious. He really does need a monkey riding a unicyle on his head to complete the look though! Gumbo is so smart. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd wouldn't it be cool if there was a little kid with a triceratops in front of the statue....
ReplyDeleteCanada has the best art... "Miss Mao trying to poise herself at the top of Lenin's head" ... Grilled Cheese art... What more is there to culture, huh?
ReplyDeleteYou know I just can't actually think of anything to say.
ReplyDeleteCool hat?
this location seems a tad cruel, but funny.
ReplyDeleteI gonna file this into the "Wow isn't that unusual" category, right next to "grilled cheese artwork." We Americans are keeping an eye on you.
ReplyDeletePlease please please make on of these with Lego men & cheese
ReplyDeleteI think Liam's dino should have been appropriately placed on Lenin's nose or something.
ReplyDeleteI'm not just saying ROFLMAO, I'm...truly...laughing!
ReplyDeleteWhat that artwork is missing is another identical Lenin/Mao statue directly facing it, and then the little breasty Maos can settle it all, American Gladiator style, by trying to unseat each other with their sticks. I mean, it would be symbolic, and deep, politically and shit.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what I'm looking at, but I do know that I love it.
ReplyDeleteI would add lit torches on either side and a Groucho mask.
ReplyDeleteExpressionism at its finest.
Dancing bears. That's what Mao needs. Or a coconut shell bikini top. I mean, really, leave it to you Canadians to flash a half naked Mao...
ReplyDeletePS- if those mittens go to a Canadian who has access to other pairs I'm going to be sad! You can't get those down here. All we get is Olympics on TV.
I though all socialist leaders had breasts. No?
ReplyDeleteUh- yeah...art can be...um...well...gosh! (scratches head) I'm at a loss.
ReplyDeleteLooks like Miss Mao could use a pair of warm mittens?
I'm glad we got that sorted out
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't hate America, contrary to what the non liberals here in the good ol US of A might tell you, I have considered defecting to Canada many, many times. Especially during W's reign.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics!
I think I'm even more confused now.
ReplyDeleteInteresting exhibit... I love the picture of you and the boys. It's adorable! Happy Olympics Day!
ReplyDeleteSee, the thing is, while you're diverting our attention with Miss Naked Girl on a guy with a fat head, you Canadians are up to some evil shit! And we're not even seeing it coming! I'm begging you, don't hurt us.
ReplyDeleteVERY cute pic, though, of you and the rugrats.
Very deceiving . . .
P.S. I am so bitching out Michel. I didn't get a Khartoum Embassy hat!
ReplyDeleteThat is pretty excellent. And odd.
ReplyDeleteWe were watching the Anthony Bourdain show about Vancouver the other night and pretty much decided we should move there. Except our families heads would probably explode if we even suggested moving so far away. Still, cool place.
I think I just fell in love with you. Please send a copy to Bill O'Reily, Texas State Board of Education, Rush Limbaugh, and those crazy people protecting my state's border from those out of control immigrants taking jobs no American is willing to do because we have great benefits via Welfare. :)
ReplyDeletetheir presence doesn't alarm me in any way
ReplyDeletei just want to know if the boobies are to scale
Are you sure the mittens won't stretch to cover that awful thing? Yeesh!
ReplyDeletewouldn't it be kinda hard to rule with an iron fist while rocking man boobs? maybe it's just me...
ReplyDeleteMaybe Mao was actually a chick, and it wasn't common knowledge. Anyway, cool art.
ReplyDeleteAll I got.
Son, you just have too much free time on your hands....
ReplyDeleteIf your followers want green grass, they can
come up here. 400 or so km. north of you.
Our golf course was snow free IN JANUARY!
That is a first in the 11 years I've been up
here.
ps. Send some of your followers to commiserate
with poor broken little sister.
Wow...I had really anticipated that you were somehow going to get that hat on the little man's head on top of the big guy's head. But no, instead we had kids and triceratops? Slight disappointnment.
ReplyDeleteI kid, of course, I love your children!! This is a great family picture.
Hmm, weird. But I like it.
ReplyDelete