That's the biggest dirty photo I've ever seen.

December 19, 2010 6:27 PM

The History of Monuments (slight artistic nudity) is a 42 meter long mural by Wang Qingsong. Before clicking "more inside" try to guess what materials he used to make the work...

...the answer is mud and people:

From August 2009, I started to work with 200 models over 15 days in shooting the 42 meter long "The History of Monuments". This work is my reflection on what is told about civilizations, beauties, virtues, standards and norms…. The models are smeared with mud and placed into the carved out contours.

He works primarily as a photographer (NWS), and has a large body of work at his site. He talks about his work in this early interview.

He was mentioned way back in 2003 here, but I was stunned by this particular work, and thought he might be worth revisiting.

posted by codacorolla (15 comments total)

Is it poop?

Oh.
posted by oinopaponton at 6:48 PM on December 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

I just wanted to mention how glad I was that the answer wasn't either of my first 2 guesses. Chocolate was guess number 2. wait, that doesn't sound right

My third guess was 'pixels, he used all of the pixels.' Strike 3!
posted by hap_hazard at 6:55 PM on December 19, 2010

Soylent Green?
posted by steambadger at 7:10 PM on December 19, 2010

Glad to know I'm not the only one who made shitty guesses.
posted by maryr at 7:27 PM on December 19, 2010

I haven't even clicked on the image, but I guess it's either ear wax or pudding.
posted by The Discredited Ape at 7:38 PM on December 19, 2010

I thought it was corpses, but then where would you get that many? It isn't like Costco carries them anymore.
posted by procrastination at 8:11 PM on December 19, 2010

bacon !
posted by elmaddog at 8:36 PM on December 19, 2010

The Monuments of Merv are my favourite monuments.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 8:37 PM on December 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

He works primarily as a photographer (NWS), and has a large body of work at his site. He talks about his work in this early interview.

I believe you meant to say "NSFW". (Ask the mods to change it.)
posted by IAmBroom at 9:22 PM on December 19, 2010

NWS - "Not Work Safe"

DFIBRMACCAI - "Don't flag it but rather, make a comment complaining about it."
posted by explosion at 9:29 PM on December 19, 2010

Slightly faster cached and zoomable version.
posted by rh at 10:12 PM on December 19, 2010

I guessed people and photoshop.

Also.. "Wang Qingsong"? Isn't that "My Ding-a-ling"?
posted by dickasso at 4:30 AM on December 20, 2010

I just noticed that this was a day of a lot of wang.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:13 PM on December 20, 2010

Also.. "Wang Qingsong"? Isn't that "My Ding-a-ling"?

Semi-eponysterical.
posted by Duke999R at 10:29 PM on December 20, 2010

explosion: haters gonna hate. I wasn't complaining; I was trying to be helpful.
posted by IAmBroom at 2:59 PM on January 4, 2011