Abstract: The ironical appropriation of revolutionary signs is a visual representation strategy widely used in contemporary art practice of China, with the purpose to transform invisible cultural trauma into visual text of remembrance. Amid the textual and visual narratives, hierarchical order of symbols and signs meets its deconstruction. Appropriation of revolutionary signs in contemporary art practice is evident in three aspects: 1) appropriation and contra-appropriation of visual signs; 2) displacement and transformation of visual images; 3) parody of visual texts. However, not all appropriation of revolutionary signs is ironical, and the criteria for irony should include semantic polysemy, contextual sharing, and alienation effect.

Key words: contemporary art, revolutionary signs, appropriation, irony, parody, visual representation