'Burning Man Obama' (VIDEO): Chinese Artist Builds Effigy Of President As Tribute

Barack Obama will be visiting China next week, and as this video report from Reuters shows, the Chinese are enthusiastic about Obama, if not in ways that always make immediate sense. For example, an artist in Beijing, Liu Bolin, has made a bronze sculpture of Obama, based on a Time magazine image of the president, that he lights on fire for three minutes at a time (He apparently hopes to sell it for $15,000.) While this--no pun intended--may seem inflammatory, the artist says he doesn't mean for the piece, called "Burning Man Obama," to be seen as an attack: "I think it represents more his popularity... I think my piece represents more the fact that Obama's on fire," he said.

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Comments

[Obamniac]

Check out this funny link: http://barackoflove.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/oh-big-brother-where-art-thou/

[Nordean Baxter]

Maybe Obama is the one! THe world thinks so. Why is America so afraid of this man? Maybe he is the end of what use to be and that is frighten to White America. We want our country back!!! !!!!! I think its already gone. The last time I seen it Bush and Cheney had it in their bank account

[PresidentRobertBooth]

He's not burning an effigy.

It's an artistic representation of something.

It's different.

[goddessNdiva]

Wow...that's hot.

[darr]

Okay everyone quit saying "burning in effigy" . This is NOT an example of burning in effigy. Geez, people. The artist said that it is to represent the fact that Obama is on "fire" as in he is "hot" as in popular etc.
Here is a definition of burning in effigy.
"A different type of effigy is used in some religious rituals to represent an undesired person or spirit. The effigy is burned as a sign of the participants' shared intent to banish the represented element from their lives"
Although this is an effigy it is NOT an example of "burning in effigy"

[Cryostatic]

I understand he doesn't intend for it to be offensive, but all the same...

You're burning the POTUS in effigy. Not the wisest choice of an art direction.

[darr]

No he's not! An effigy is a likeness of someone and this is certainly an effigy. But to burn someone in effigy means that they are an undesired person to you and you burn it to banish that undesirable element.
That is NOT the intention of this artist as you, yourself pointed out.

[av10]

People in China are happily aflame and optimistic over what Obama represents.

[mullah]

Which is Communism.

[simplemee]

You are sooooo Funny!

[indi1216]

if it works...awesome.

[malodorousgit]

I think it's pretty clunky.

[opprobrious]

Careful, the Chia people might get ideas.

[ChicagoBob]

The Chinese people I know think Obama may be able to walk on water.
More importantly, they understand the reasoning behind the Peace Prize.

[Pem3]

Reminds me of the Ghost Rider with the flaming head.

[Pem3]

It is an interesting Idea maybe it has deeper meaning in China, and I do not get most modern art anyway.
Looks kinda cool though.

[AristophanesJones]

Oh Asia, you're so silly.

[YunekFlava]

That's some creepy sh*t. Sorry bro, I just don't get it.

[madHenry]

Asian takes on America and Americans often confuse and sometimes infuriate me. This is pretty cool, though. Think "Liz" from Hellboy.

[AMTHEONE0999]

Cool. I thought it was David Carradine may he R.I.P.