She came over. She is such a lovely person. Gentle,quiet, but at the same time, a great conversationalist who is giving me a lot of insight into the everyday idealogies of China. She has started to help translate my shoots with the funeral cryers. She is studying oil painting. She is worried how she will survive as an artist in China. There is no government support here for the arts here – and she needs to connect with a gallery, and become commercially successful. Some artists have a great livelihood here, and earn a lot of wealth – you see them pulling up to their studio in the 4 wheel drive porsches, but most don’t. She says she wanted to become an artist becuase she has always loved the feeling of doing art since she was child, much like myself. I have sent her a lot of opportunity lists for artist in residencies around the world, etc, but she then wonders how she could ever take advantage of them, and she says the english is hard to understand. Her parents support her at the moment, but university is expensive, around 15000 RMB a year. I sent her some successful applications I had written to give her a point in the right direction.
I wonder how Organhaus Gallery survive? – but they are a great organisation. Their residency program has been really good – its hard to meet up with them, becuase they all start work so late – but they seem to be a gathering place for local artists, etc.
We will do a few translations day. She went off to have a big dinner with a friend, and Matt, Pablo and I need to venture out onto the crazy streets of Chongqing and do the same.
Here is the first translation from the funeral cryer.
DC.2828.mov
8.07
mama
11.21-14.01
your children come back to see you.
15.03 – 22.02
I was far away and I hear sad news.
23.20 – 25.21
My heart is really broken
23.30 – 30.14
I came here with tears
30.20
My dear mother
33.00 36.10
My tears can’t stop falling
36.10 – 43.04
All of your children came here to say goodbye to you.
43.04 – 52.11
Ma ma……
52.11 – 59.18
We are reluctant to let you go.
1.02.11 – 1.21.14
My tears are like a river flowing
1.21.14-1.37.13
The drops of tears are falling down in front of Mamas alter
1.37.13 – 1.47.10
our mama
1.47.10-2.03.16
You bring us up through hardships
2.03.16.- 2.15.00
Your whole life was hardworking looking after our family
2.15.00-2.24.00
Our good mama
2.24.00-2.36.21
Mama we miss you
2.36.21-2.49.08
we have seen your ghost and its feels like our heart has been cut with a knife.
2.49.08-2.57.03
remembering the past days we spent with you, chatting and laughing.
2.57.03-3.06.13
but today we have to face the cruelest fact in our life
3.06.13-3.09.22
we are apart, never to meet again
3.09.22-3.16.00
mama….
3.16.00-3.33.05
My tears are like a river flowing
3.33.05-3.51.13
The drops of tears are falling down in front of Mamas alter
3.51.13-4.00.03
Missing you so much.
4.00.03-4.07.19
Your life is so hard working mama
4.07.19-4.16.07
You raised us to adulthood
4.16.07-4.27.04
I am crying with tears and calling for mama
4.27.04-4.34.12
Our good mama
4.34.12-4.47.15
we reluctantly let you go
4.47.15- 4.55.08
you spend your whole life, taking care of four generations.
4.55.08-5.03.04
our four generations grew up with your care, happily.
5.03.04-5.13.12
God is so emotionless to let you go
5.13.12-5.20.14
We are really reluctantly let you go
5.20.14-5.29.02
We reluctantly let you go
5.29.02-5.38.13
We reluctantly let you go
5.38.13-5.47.22
You bring us up through hardships
5.47.22-5.55.08
we won’t forget your loving kindness for ever
5.55.08-6.06.11
oh my god
6.06.11-6.12.18
Why do you take our mama away
6.12.18-6.33.22
Your children kneel in front of your alter calling your name with deep emotion.
6.33.22-6.54.20
In this last night you spend with us, let your dedicated kids call you mama one last time.
