I feel like my project is starting to get going again. Today I have bought the materials that I need for the installation, and went on a few walks to consider where I could do an external work (or series of works), and collected a series of discarded architectural materials to use for my internal installation. I have started to spray these and arrange them within the studio. I have also made the decision to use the original boards for woodcut that I bought from the SFAI, and getting another one cut would create delay and it could be difficult to source paper. I am trying to simplify logistics due to time pressures and my inability to speak little Mandarin.
We also decided today to open my exhibition in the studio here at HuangJePing Art Centre on the 28th June. It is really not long and I have a lot to do! Lists, lists and just work through it. I thought it would be easier to have it here rather than across town like the previous artist.
We also had a few visitors today, Ping Bo came back to see us, and one of YanYan’s students came to say hello to me with her parents. Afterwords we went to a studio complex on the hill, where we visited the studio of Li Xiaojing. She is one of the few female artists I have met yet, and she is my age. Her paintings and animation combine naive illustrative elements within a melancholic and dream like environment.
I am back at the SFAI on Wednesday to print so I had better get going!
Today has been a ‘bitty’ day and I have not achieved as much as I would have liked – I am aware I only have three weeks left and I need to get on with things!
I spent the morning doing washing and sorting out some things at home, then I started on some drawings and worked more on a small woodcut. In the afternoon YanYan brought his artist friend Cai who is applying for the Breathe residency at the Chinese Arts Centre. YanYan asked me to read through his statement which had been translated from Mandarin to English by a translator machine – the grammar was terrible and made little sense at points, so we went through the whole document, and hopefully now it is better.
Cai and his friend Bo Ping took me out for dinner to say thank you which was very kind – I had my first cucumber soup. Afterwards we went to the opening of an exhibition at the Organhaus gallery (www.organhaus.org) where a South Korean artist exhibited a photography exhibition. The artist Lee Sang Woo took a photograph for every of the 62 Chinese Divinations. Visitors to the exhibition played a small game with sticks that gave you a number of dots which matched up to a code on a photograph and lead you to your divination. My photograph was of two old monks on architecture, and my divination was ‘if you work hard and are good to your friends you will do well’.
Afterwards we went to meet ‘Mr Lee’, who has a very impressive DIY printmaking studio just off the main street – he has built printmaking equipment for every process. I am continually surprised everyday here by the commitment and innovative approach to the arts.
Today I have spent the day in the studio drawing, and I feel like I am getting on well. I have managed to finish my first drawing of the junction, and am making good headway of the building facade drawing. It is really enjoyable for me to be able to spend time drawing, and take my time and not rush it. I have also decided to add more shading and dimension to these drawings, than flatter drawings I have done recently.
I also went out this afternoon to try and find a larger piece of wood for my woodcut with YanYan – but everywhere in the area sells small pieces. YanYan’s friend can help me source some.
Tonight we went to the studio of the artist, and print-maker Wang Jun. Over green tea we discussed many interesting aspects of culture here with regards to control, censorship, art education and liberty. On sunday I will meet Wan Jung for hougo (hotpot). Wan Jung was the artist in residence at the Chinese Arts Centre in Manchester last summer.
I got home late, so it is another short blog post. I want to get up early tomorrow for more drawing and I need to think about the three dimensional work.
It is now Day 7, and I feel like I am starting to know my way around, and I am getting most of my materials together, research undertaken, and I now need to focus on really making work. I still have few traditional sites to visit for research, but I will have to wait a few days for YanYan’s assistants to be available.
Today has also been a very interesting day back at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute. I attended a wood block printmaking class with students, and three students with very good English were my guide – thanks to YanYan’s arrangements. It was interesting to see how a practical class was run, as well as their approach to woodblock printmaking. I brought along my own tools which everyone was fascinated by. I managed to cut most of my small test on their 2ply wood, and I will print tomorrow.
The host students took me for lunch in their cafeteria, and then we went to a lovely coffee shop in the campus, where one of the students worked part time. We had some interesting conversations about the internet and politics within the country.
After class the students showed me around the gardens of the campus – it is very beautiful indeed, with some very interesting buildings, especially the Library. We also went past an auditorium where Takashi Murakami gave a lecture the previous week.
I met up with Zhi Ling and Shu Wen before I headed back to my studio – the bus journeys today were long and I am tired so it is a shorter blog post tonight.
