Breath Artist-In-Residence Chongqing

Chen Jiao

Almost everyone has a mobile phone even the Ban Ban (people carrying loads on bamboo) have a mobile phone. Since plans change all the time I have bought a mobile phone. This has improved my social life.

It is difficult to communicate, as I expected, but I do have access to a translator. I am picking up some Mandarin. This is best practiced in the bar over cards or in the bookshop over tea and snacks.

I eat everything. I have eaten pig’s trotters, stomach, intestine, chicken feet, eel, pig’s brain and pig’s blood. Pig’s brain did not feel nice in my mouth but I am determined to eat everything that comes my way. Thankfully dog hasn’t been ordered. Fortunately I am not fussy but if I really don’t like something I just swallow it and move on.

One example of the hospitality and warmth of the people here is when I met Fu Yu Xiang. I wondered into his studio at 501 and then he whisked me off for lunch. Although we had some difficulties communicating we very much enjoyed each others company and the food was fantastic! Especially the bamboo.

Huang lin’s wife cooked for Valerie, Oliver and myself one evening and it was delicious. She made one of the local dishes that tastes like smokey bacon with vegetables.

I have met a millionaire. His fortune has been built ferrying tourists to the 3 Gorges Dam, opening 3 exclusive restaurants in Chongqing and his latest venture is in rabbit farming. He talked very passionately about the American’s in his uncanny American accent. He told me of China’s vision of customer service influenced by the Americans. He invited me and a friend who had introduced me to him, to take part in a pannel of judges. We were to judge his staff at his restaurant on their passionately driven restaurant entertainment. Scoring was made from the lowest 8 and highest 10 and we were told not to give less than 9. One group sang ‘I love China’. The song is hard to erase and I can see how the spirit of song empowers people. It was ear piercing and with some relief I wore ear plugs! The prizes included cash, a keyboard and the latest ipods! Such a generous boss! The evening was filmed and was going to be shown on the local Chongqing TV station. All was well until we were invited on stage for the final performance. We cringed as we clapped along in front of the camera. The things we do!

I met Iwan Bala senior lecturer at the School of Creative Arts and Humanities, Trinity College, Carmarthen and went to a lecture he gave. He spoke about the suppression of Wales by Britain especially by the submersion of Llanwddyn by the dame at Lake Vyrnwy built by the Victorians, the recent rise in Welsh art and artists questioning Welsh identity. His exhibition at the 3 Gorges Museum was ironic since the Chinese had damed the Yanse River and displaced 1.24 million people who fled to Chongqing.

At the lecture a Chinese student was angry that the British had not given back important relics since the cultural revolution fell and asked why the British government would not give them back. Iwan talked about the British for not giving back Welsh bluestones from Stonehenge.

What would the world be like if the museums returned their objects back to their original heritage?

Li Yifan is a documentary video artist and made important documentary about the flooding of Fengjie the ancient home of the Chinese poet Li Bai. His film has had international acclaim and the Chinese government are sensitive about his work. Here link that reviews the film-

http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/reviews.php?film_id=10…