Public art is a wonderful thing, and just by City Hall in SE1 there has been a fabulous and temporary exhibition by a Chinese artist of Chubby women.
If, like me, you feel your bikini days are over, that even shadows are unwelcome let alone full length unflinching mirrors, these are sculptures that make you reassess less than perfect flesh.
Chilling With Admirer
Cycling
Dancing With Dog
Fighting
Kissing
Skateboarding
The fifteen rotund women by Xu Hongfei were attracting lots of attention when I saw them on Monday. I was with a group of adults and teenagers. We all loved them. Our faces were wreathed in smiles. Visitors stood by them and held onto them while their friends took photographs. For once, Tower Bridge was not the centre of attention.
I don’t know where where the touring exhibition is off to next, but it’d be worth finding it if it’s in your vicinity.
The exuberance, freedom, and gleefulness these sculptures express may not get me back in a swimsuit anytime soon, but I may be a little bit more accepting of my increasingly wobbly flesh.
Isobel (and Cat)'s Blog 
Those sculptures are absolutely fabulous…..I love the sense of total abandon in those faces – one very clever – and talented – artist.
Pam
If Julia posts the link you may find they are going to be exhibited near you!
I’d go see it if I could…..they’re marvelous!
Looks like you might have to plan a trip to Italy. It’s a hard life…!
Gosh – now I have an excuse to call the travel agent…… 😉
Glad to help! 🙂
How amazing, if only real women were portrayed in art works more often, I hope it comes touring my way 🙂 I love the skateboarder!
I think we may have to go to Turin Gilly!
Oh no, the west country needs to see them!
A good excuse to travel to Turin though Gilly!
Oh well done Julia. Could you post a link to the info please?
She could do with a visit to Bravissimo though!
Love the chubby women – thank you for sharing photos
I wish they were here longer. I should have liked to go back and see them again.
Lovely sculptures. Thank you for sharing
They are fabulous aren’t they?
How fabulous especially as you have caught me on a ‘I feel fat’ day! I was in London last Weds but turned left rather than right!
The exuberance and joy are contagious aren’t they?
Wonderful, playful sculptures! I was smiling all the way here in Nashville. Thanks for sharing!
Yet if they were real chubby women I think the most common reaction would be derision and disgust. They could provoke an interesting debate. I never see really big women displaying such confidence in their body shapes.
What a clever observation. And a true one. I don’t see really big women displaying such confidence, either but wonder if that would change people’s perception of them if the statues were real chubby women…
Maybe they are. It’s an odd one isn’t it?
I don’t know if you noticed, Isobel, but it seems that a couple of them were clad in something less than swim suits. No need to worry about what you look like in a suit. 🙂
In the surfing one which I didn’t photograph but which I am sure you could find online, she is wearing a thong. I do not intend to follow her example!
The ballet is amazing. I wish they would come to NZ
Maybe a few letters to cultural departments?
They are all delightful but my favorites are Dancing with Dog and Cycling!
Lovely to see you. I am increasingly intrigued by our reaction to these sculptures. They have given me much to ponder.
Glorious! That bike saddle definitely isn’t big enough 😀
I know the feeling…. 🙂