18 on the Bund elevator

 

Liu Jianhua Studio, Shanghai

 

Hangzhou Dec 28, 2007

 

Dec 28, 2007

 

contemporary artspeak

I am in Hangzhou for some meetings in and around the Academy and spent a few hours last night in the teahouse with some artists. I was talking with them about my the research project I am working on concerning conceptual art production and processes of manufacturing, outsourcing, etc. We had a nice talk and my Chinese is good enough to talk about these things to a certain degree but I often feel that I lack the skills to dig deeper, like I am constantly hovering at the surface. Probably it is that I feel hindered my abilities to do 'contemporary art speak' in Chinese. Maybe it is has to do with my tendencies to appropriate the highly specified language of the artworld, of which there is often no Chinese equivalent, though I also think it comes down to language itself--I would have a hard time talking about these things in english too! (thanks to rania for the link)

Merry Christmas!

 

the xmas decorations in this town are outta control! went for dinner the other night and tried to capture the lights of the city from the restaurant window...somewhat unsuccessfully. Anyway, warm Christmas wishes to everyone out there! Last night was another xmas eve foodfest at Rania and Wang Wei's house, Rania made apple pie, pumpkin pie, and homemade bread. I made, uh, soup.

Merry Xmas from Beijing

Wishing everyone out there a nice holiday! I am here in the dusty capital, trying to stay warm and busy. Right now in middle of research for the CCAA text I will write on art production but it is intensely frustrating since I want to observe things firsthand and because it is winter everything has slowed to a snail's pace. Called an artist yesterday and he simply said “今天不工作”or "I am not working today". not much to reply to that. Mostly everyone just tries to stay indoors, to avoid not only the cold but the horrible air. Exhibitions and projects are also on slo-mo, with most everyone focused on what is happening after Chinese New Year (Feb 7 this year) instead of before. Today the air is THICK out there and even though it is 9am it feels like 4pm according to the light. I was nearby the new luxury mall Shin Kong plaza yesterday and decided to stop by the food market to pick up some food...the store (oh and the food court!) is totally amazing: gorgeous (shrinkwrapped) produce, organic vegetables, pristine meat counter and prepared food section. For a minute I really felt I was in Whole Foods. they even sell 'marketplace' tote bags for your groceries. It was surreal, guess I have been spending too much time in my dingy local supermarket!

 

This is today

 

 

That was yesterday

 

 

Scenes from an old printing danwei in Beijing

 

 

 

Hangzhou

 
being forced to listen to classical qin music, aiya!

Hangzhou