We have moved into an apartment – indoor stadium area, about five stops out from People’s Square. It has two bedrooms and 2 bathroom – so Pablo is in Heaven. He has overtaken our bedroom as the designated play room. We are on the top floor, the 18th story, and our view is a sea of apartment buildings, interweaved by superhighways and overpasses. Walking on the street is an intense experience of traffic noise. From the 18th story, its just a constant hum. Apparently there is a heated pool and gym somewhere in this complex.
After the hard living of the Platform China, it feels like luxury. Also, its been nice to have Pablo wanting to bath – the shower at Platform china meant showers became screaming sessions for Pablo.
We spent yesterday just moving in, finding a supermarket, filling the fridge for the next couple of weeks.
I still seem unsure of how to proceed with my work here, feeling a bit frustrated about it. but more suggestions from my day of emailing on Tuesday are starting to pay off. Some are, some aren’t. Jacky, who owns this apartment we have rented (through airbnb) is a TV producer, so I thought I would email him with a few of the ideas that i was hoping to pursue in Shanghai (see last post). I don’t think he understood what I was after, and this is the response I got.
Hi Tina,
1. There is no fast train between Shanghai and Chongqing, only 13 hours normal one.
2. Prettiest, happiest and most harmonious faces are the kids: no matter kindgarten or school.
3. Servie industry in China is poorest.
4. There is no similar “Women Venting anger store” in Shanghai, neither in China. It’s not Chinese culture or tradition, it copied from developed country – Japan.
5. I don’t know any strange barber in Shanghai, Shanghai is a commercial city instead of creative.
Best,
Jacky
Brendan Linnane, a london based artist we met in Beijing, suggested we should get in contact with a friend of his, Mathilde – we will hopefully meet over the next couple of days. Brian, from Redgate gallery sent through a few contacts as well. I also heard back from Island6 – an arts organisation in shanghai who used to run residencies. I have also written to the Australian consulate, etc, and have a few shanghai based expats
Its interesting in China – it seems emails are not really responded to, and most ‘business’ is done over a mobile phone. It takes a lot to get me on a phone, but I am trying to change my ways. For example, I keep emailing Organhaus, to finalise the Chongqing residency. I ask if they have recieved my emails, and Yang Shu, the director, tells me he hasn’t even looked at his email :). Apparently the next important communication is texting – I rarely respond to texts, but was told by Gordon at Where Where space that not responding to texts is the ultimate no no – considered very rude. Will have to change my communication methods. If I want things to speed up, the phone will need to be my friend and I will have to keep it charged and close by.
So, just off the phone to Organhaus in Chongqing – and Yangshu, the director is flying to germany for six weeks the day after I hope to fly in. He promised he would email the curators contacts through. I am looking at flying to Chongqing on the 14th of November or so – will organise in the next couple of days. The 13 hour train could be a bit difficult with Pablo, so I flights may be a better option.
We are heading off to M50 today – an art district near Shanghai Railway Station.
