RICHMOND, VA.- Xu Bing: Tobacco Project explores the production and culture of tobacco as seen through the eyes of one of China’s most ground-breaking contemporary artists. The artist visited tobacco farms, warehouses and cigarette factories in Virginia to create the work for this exhibition, which also includes pieces from the artist’s previous projects on this topic. Altogether, this exhibition spans 12 years and surveys one of his most ambitious undertakings. Tobacco Project will be on view through December 4, 2011. “Virginia’s long history with tobacco makes Tobacco Project a particularly relevant exhibition,” Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Alex Nyerges said. “Xu Bing is one of China’s most recognized and celebrated contemporary artists, and we are pleased to feature this noted artist’s work at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.” Xu Bing conducted his first Tobacco P