One Meter Democracy poster

One Meter Democracy

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One Meter of Democracy (2010) challenged the endurance of viewers, as well as the courage of the artist. In a quasi-democratic process, He Yunchang invited approximately 20 friends to vote in a secret ballot on whether he should have a surgeon cut a one metre incision the length of his body, from collar bone to knee, without anaesthesia. The vote was carried by a narrow majority, with several abstaining. The performance was documented in video and photographs that reveal the emotional cost of witnessing this gruelling event. This work, sometimes also known as ‘Asking the Tiger for its Skin’ was also staged on a symbolic date: 10 October 2010 was the 99th anniversary of the Wuchang uprising and the Xinhai Revolution which led to the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China. The final image shows the group with sombre, shocked faces.

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Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
—
Language
Mandarin
  • performance art
  • endurance
  • political

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Director

Yunchang He

Produced in

China

Videos

Release dates

  • ChinaCN

    • Premiere10 Oct 2010

Frequently asked questions

One Meter Democracy was released on 10 October 2010.

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