City - by Nicole He on Monday, September 29, 2008 12:47 - 1 Comment

Betelnut Girls: Girls Selling Stimulants = Art

 
Don’t feel guilty if you want to buy a semi-addictive stimulant from a skankily-dressed Asian girl in SoHo - It’s art!

New York artist Annamarie Ho is recreating a booth from which betelnut, a type of seed, is often sold by nearly-naked women to passing men in Taiwan. From her website:

Betelnut, a mild stimulant, is consumed throughout Asia; only in Taiwan, however, is it sold by binlang xi shi, scantily-clad girls in glass booths found on street corners and highways, catering to a clientele consisting primarily of working-class men. 

Binlang Xi Shi (Betelnut Girls) recreates one of these booths with a hired actress playing the role of the betelnut girl.  During the performance dates, she will sell betelnut to passers-by.

The piece intends to examine the complicated social and cultural exchange between the girls and the customers. 

Check it out this Friday, Saturday or Sunday on the west side of Cleveland Place, south of Kenmare Street. For, you know, art.

Photos by Dean Stattmann
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1 Comment

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Tim G
Oct 3, 2008 17:02

I never really saw any of the girls wearing brightly colored wigs in the betel nut booths. But, they do take after the Japanese quite a bit, so it is fitting.

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Nicole He is the City Editor of NYU Local.
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