It is hard to believe that it is only 4 days until my partner arrives (can’t wait!) and I have just under a week left in Chongqing before we leave to do a bit of travelling in China. I am so looking to forward to seeing him, and cannot wait to see what he thinks of it all, I am so glad we can share these experiences together. The poor guy will have two days of travelling from Manchester to Chongqing – he’ll be exhausted by the time he gets here.
It has been a fantastic month, and I feel like I am starting to get used the the way of life more, the food, and I am enjoying being able to make work everyday and not worry about students progress, other paid work and trying to curb costs (as everything has been so affordable here). Although I am looking forward to a roast chicken and especially wholemeal bread, I will miss the time to do work.
Although I think the residency would have benefited to be longer, especially with regards to allowing for reflection, more in depth research, getting to know local artists more and the culture, I feel as I have been productive. The project has allowed me to develop so much which I would have struggled to do without the support of the 501 Artspace, Chinese Art Centre, and of course the grant from the Arts Council England.
The opening is in three days. Tonight YanYan and I were finalising the poster. The gallery lights are up. I am on my second last drawing, and I would still like to do one more map if I have the time. Today I finished the sprays, which was good fun, and at each location drew a croud. I also made a new friend – a music lecturer at the Chongqing University. The sprays outside were something I have never done before, although I often use spraypaint in drawing sessions with students, and we talk about the politics of graffiti as art, and the fashion associated with street art these days. Of course, here it is not illegal, so my sprays only add to the welcomed decoration. I like the fact they will be there for a long time, or until someone decorates over them.
The symbols on the grafitti are all parts of routes, and all contain the icon of the earth with the cross in front of it. This is the symbol that my computer displays when I try to access western sites such as YouTube etc, or dirty words, or socially sensitive websites. All three are situated at walkways around the studio within which I walk everyday.
I have also been arranging a thank you dinner for everyone who has helped me out whilst I have been here. It will be on Thursday night, and we will go for HotPot – it should be fun, and a baptism of fire for Dave my partner – there will be over 18 people!
