We got a bit lost going home last night – couldn’t find the train station, and then no cab would stop for us as it was peak hour. We found then found a train station, worked out where we were on the map, and we finally managed to get to our station with our chinese subway map. We were supposed to get on the 823 bus – it was too packed, and seemed too difficult to fight our way on – so we then tried for a cab – all full, no one stopping – so we then took one of the three wheelers home. Weaving in and out of traffic – buses pulling out in front of us – the little motor bike engine roaring away. We made it back to our street – what a lively street it is – Saturday night it is filled with market stalls and all the students hanging out – its a great area, so full of life.
We then went down to the Bar out the front of the apartment – Moon’s other bar. Pablo likes to play with the pool balls and Matt and I like to sit back, have a beer and discuss the day. The girls at the bar are obsessed with Pablo – and they just keep giving him lollies and chocolate – I am talking huge snickers bars, packets of lollies, pop corn, nuts, etc. Every time I turn around they are giving him more lollies – I can’t understand it – its right at dinner time – I feel like screaming ‘No!’, but I don’t want to offend them, but then again I don’t want my son eating all this bad food. And then I try to be a bit more zen – we are not here for ever, so I smile. So Pablo had two chicken sates, a bananna and heaps of lollies and chocolate for dinner. The other evening, we were sitting at a street food stall, just ordered dinner, a then a woman grabs him, hugs him, sort of forces him on her knee. I am on the look out to see if Pablo is getting distressed. And then, with her hand full of lollies, she just starts stuffing them in Pablo’s mouth. I got annoyed, motion ‘no’, and shook my head, thinking this would work. Then, she sort of pivoted herself around so I couldn’t see what she was doing and continued stuffing handfuls of lollies in his mouth…. Gosh, its crazy – I found myself getting really annoyed and took a few deep breaths. I am trying to teach pablo to always ask me first before he eats these lollies. I started to get paranoid after the directness of this lady, as I thought I saw pablo’s eyes were a bit droopy – he looked a bit spacey – what were those lollies she stuffed into his mouth? You just don’t really know what your eating here. Matt thinks he is was just on a sugar high, which is most likely – he hadn’t eaten for ages and then was filled with lollies. I don’t know. He was fine, but parenting here at times can be really testing as everyone feels they have full access to your child, which leaves us constantly on the look out. I don’t see the chinese kids eating so many lollies, but the kids here a treated like little gods, and they know lollies are a sure fire instant gratification way to make kids happy. I was talking to an artist here and she mentions one of the hardest things of having children here, is getting access to them as parents! Both grandparents fight over them, then all the friends want to spend time with them, then work collegues. Usually, when you have children, the grandparents will move back in with you to help look after them. We saw a lady with twins yesterday – what a blessing that is here – with the one child policy, to have twins is an absolute gift.
So..Apparently the shoot begins today again! I asked She to organise 4 funeral criers for the same day – so the price won’t change again etc. Yesterday she tells me she found 4 – but I have to buy them tobacco as a gift – and give them 1000 RMB. Just got a call and its gone up again. Gosh, things are shifting in China – you never know whats going on, and best to be zen with it I guess.
Anyway, it will be great to continue the shoot. I am charging all batteries, clearing all disks. Lets hope for the best. I am meeting She at 2.45 pm.
Yesterday we got the sky train into town again – I shot a lot of footage – just of the smog and the incessant building – yesterday the pollution was quite normal – you could see a mile or so. I am hanging out for a good dose of clean air and a bit of wild nature, and open spaces. Chongqing is one of the fastest growing cities in the world – and the biggest – reaching 35 million people. Everywhere is filled with people, and more people and more people. On the public transport we fight for space – now it comes quite naturally – everyone just forces there way into the carriage as people are forcing themselves off. Noone seems to get angry – its just the way it is. We force ourselves on and off – we are getting used to it.
Pablo fell asleep in the pram, so we went and had a few beers in town. Pablo still drew a crowd while sleeping and then the old ladies started to touch him – sort of motioning that he might be cold or hot or what ever – I just motioned – please don’t wake him up – he needs to sleep. He was very rugged up – and its not that cold – but in China, the people seem to be obsessed by the clothes you are wearing and have no problem telling you if you are not dressed right – I walked out in sandals the other day and was told off – ‘too cold!’ I think they were saying as they were shaking their head as they stared at my feet. At a gallery opening in Berlin, I had a women literally start yelling at me for wearing sandals when she thought I should have had shoes on.
mmm. just got a call from She, my assistant and ofcourse the funeral criers want more money now – so they have cancelled tomorrow performance. We had a deal for six performers over three days. She says its just becuase they see a western face, so the money goes up. Thankgod I didn’t pay for the six today! When I went to the first funeral parlour with She, to organise the shoot, she said the price was exorbitant, four times what we are paying now. So, She went to the funeral parlour on her own, negotiated the price with out me being present. So, we have to find new criers now! I don’t think it will be hard – there are thousands of them in Chongqing – Oh, well. I thought it was a little too easy…
It was a stange shoot actually – usually my shoots are about building relationships, then trusting each other – then exploring what we can do infront of the camera. Today, they walked in, stood where I wanted them to then began- gave a great performance- then givemoney – then they left.
Tomorrow, we will head into town to find barbers to shoot I think…I also want to shoot from the Skytrain – its quite an amazing trip into town – it flys above the roads, accross the bridges, into a nothingness of grayness. – the pollution is intense. I am not sure why I want to shoot this – but when I am on the sky train, looking out the window makes me lose my tummy. Its a strange feeling. I also feel like I am looking at the end of the world. Just this crazy built up madness and chaos, with air that is hardly breathable. Like the building is a frenzy, going at such a pace, with such intensity, building a city for 35 millions people – but they have forgotten the need to breath. If they don’t do something about the pollution soon, you won’t be able live here anymore. I will try bringing the seconday video camera – it should deal better with movement.
I had a meeting with Nikun today, the curator of organhaus – to talk about doing another dinner here, like we did in Beijing. I am not sure if we will yet- but its good to put it out there and see if it is possible. I thought about doing it on the street, at one of the street food restaurants – we would attract a huge crowd though.
so – spent the day getting ready for the shoot – first of all search for tripod – its in the office a Organhaus. Test the tripod – then search for lights – no lights anywhere – so went to the shop – bought a 200 watt globe and then the guy added a plug to it. 10 RMB. There is the light. Just to light up the face a bit. I bought some tracing paper to diffuse it. I positioned the tripod about 3 meters from the wall. The aim was not to move the tripod and do a continuous shoot for twenty minutes.. I asked She to tell them to slowly move to the tripod, as if the camera was the body.
The two professional funeral criers arrived at 2pm. They look at the set up and say ‘its too close’ if you need us to do a long song, we need to slowly make our way to the camera, and we need a longer way. So, moved the camera back, but then had to compensate with a bit of a zoom as the wall wasn’t wide enough. They told me they collapse to their knees – so needed to lower the tripod. They get changed into the traditional outfit and seem ready to begin.
Wow – what performers – starting off with a slow speech, it then they fall to the ground, which moves onto to arms wailing and then singing and moaning that had such an intensity – there is no way that my mic could have handled it. My ears were hardly about to handle the intensity. They slowly make there way forward after much dramatic movement – throwing themselves on the ground. Wow, I don’t know what I was expecting, but I was a bit stunned. I said I wanted a continuous 20 minutes, and after this was agreed with, the first lady stops after 12 minutes and says ‘thats the end of the song’. They wiped there tears and went to get changed. I need another session, so she did another session of about ten minutes. Then the man did his version – about 15 minutes, then about 6 minutes. It was quite incredible to watch – I am not sure what this will become – some sort of video installation – The footage has turned out well – the focus points were hard as they kept moving, and the sound too loud, but we have another shoot tomorrow for two more funeral criers. I feel a bit exhausted after seeing the performance. But feel excited that we have begun the shoot. I think the plain back ground works. We exchanged money. They tell me they work everyday, and also are opera performers.
I have she to translate the video.
I got an email back from Julia from Platform China in Beijing, she sent notes from the girls that we worked with that night – the seamstresses – Inspired by the work of Lygia Clarke, and the positive social aspirations of the Fluxus group (in particular Yoko Ono) we also invited 5 seamstresses. Slowly, over the seven courses, the seamstresses sewed the guests together tracking the emotional connections of the conversation. As each of the guests engaged with each other, the seamstress would mark the connection via sewing their clothes together. As the dinner progressed, the stitching became tighter and more tense. The dinner table became a physical web of emotional connections. Accelerated intimacy (and insecurities) erupted, great conversation were catalyzed and friendships formed. The sewn clothes of the guests remained as an artifact. We have sent them back to Australia on the slow boat.
This makes me wonder if we can redo this event in Chongqing. My first thoughts are on the streets – at a street restaurant – but I worry about the crowds? Or in the gallery – but I think the streets would be better – to see responses, etc. I shall talk to Nikun about it. Invite the art students to take part.
I have also been thinking about a range of photos – something to do with chopsticks and smile training but I am still unsure of what to do. Something with the street vendors.
Funeral criers
http://madamepickwickartblog.com/2011/06/the-waile…
More:http://www.danwei.org/music/professional_mourners.php
For some reason, Chongqing has many funeral criers – up to 2000 of them. I am still yet to find out why this is. Funeral crying is popular in eastern europe, in taiwain, and greece.
I think the idea is, is that the criers help conjure up emotional intensity. The Professional wailers are performers and they paid to cry for the deceased through anguished songs. It is an ancient custom, but during Mao’s Cultural Revolution wailing was banned. “Now, in the reform era of go-go capitalism, its seeing a revival”.
I am not sure who will show up – so it will be hard to know how to shoot – I figure we get the whole gallery ready – two lights, tripod. From my research, it suggests they might fall to the ground – how long can we expect this? What is it like to be a funeral cryer – should I interview them as well? I really need to think this out
