City Memory – Drawings and Sketches of Wang Shouzhi

Duration: May 6 – June 3, 2012

Opening: May 6, 15:00, 2012

A lecture and a book launch by Prof. Wang Shouzhi will be hosted to accompany the opening.

Venue: Iron Curtain Gallery (F10), Redtory, Guangzhou

Exhibition Director: Alice Wong

Art Director: Ke Peng

Organizer: Redtory Culture & Art Organization

Co-organizer: Scientific Research and Creation Office, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

When we are immersed in the dirts stirred by the massive construction projects in the city, probably it is time for us to trace back to the origine of the dirts, for those may be the beginning of our bloodline. Iron Curtain Gallery is honored to hold an exhibition about the memory of Guangzhou from Prof. Wang Shouzhi, who has made remarkable achievements in design history as well as urban human geography.

It’s already a shared subject among artists to record the city through different media such as photograph, painting and sculpture. This time, Prof. Wang reveals Guangzhou city in his memory to the public with over 40 pieces of sketch, reflecting both old lanes with a history of more than half a century and the star buildings emerged in the new century. Who on earth has shed a shade on the other? Prof. Wang shows his judgment with his memory. The concept of archaeology seems to be obscure during the process of human civilization; however, we can build ourselves a maze in our memories about a city through the passionate pictures by Prof. Wang Shouzhi.

Iron Curtain Gallery will publish a portfolio under the same name to concert the opening. We hope this exhibition itself could become a part of the city’s memory.

PREFACE

/ Wang Shouzhi

City is changing all the time, though, in a person’s memory, it always clings to a certain visage in light of memory. I was born in the center of Guangzhou. I was told that, when I was born, my family were still living with my grandpa’s little brother – my seventh granduncle’s family. It was a house in Xinghua Alley. After I was born, my family directly took me back to our new home at No. 81, Lianxin Road. The house was facing Fuqian Road, where Guangzhou government building was located, as well as the central park. Flame trees tendered the silent road like an umbrella. This is the place where I witnessed the process that Nationalist Party surrendered to the PCP. The city of Guangzhou in my mind is closed related to the Republic of China due to my childhood memory.

The architecture in Guangzhou has always be characteristic, which, I think, must have something to do with Guangzhou’s position as a connection between China and abroad since Tang Dynasty. When most part of China was still building traditional style houses such as quadrangle courtyards, Qilou Buildings have already emerged in Guangzhou. When China was still in a state of seclusion, Guangzhou has already had trade centers such as Thirteen Hongs, suggesting that modern buildings have already entered the city. Guangzhou has been leading on the path of China’s national modernization. At the early phase, it has excellent works such as Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Guangzhou Government Building and Lingnan University, among which Sha Mian appeared as the best planned international leased territory completely isolated with the other territory of China. These buildings are still the best place for understanding the layout and design of European colonial architecture from18 to 19 century. Guangzhou is the earliest to form its axis line, to have central park and busy western style business street such as Changti. What’s more, the development of Guangzhou is not realized by the deconstruction of the old, like some cities do. Instead, it has been following a pattern which allows the coexistence of the old and the new; Xiguan Houses, Dongshan Villa and the traditional modernization along the axis line, thereby, to step forward side by side, suggesting a most reasonable pattern of the development of the modern city. I’m deeply impressed by all of these.

In the recent decades, Guangzhou has been experiencing a grand development with the axis line being driven easter and easter. The urban area expanded, the old districts were rebuilt, even No. 81 in Lianxin Road was demolished and transformed into road linking Fuqian Road and Jiefangbei Road. The vicissitudes have changed everything but memory, which, when being drawn, still has its charm. This is the story of these sketches.

Some people might ask, don’t you like new things? I would answer them that the place in one’s childhood memory is the most intimate thing to him. Perhaps my grandpa preferred Guangzhou in the era of the 1911 Revolution, my father loves Guangzhou in the 1930s most, while what I am showing you here is the city in my generation’s memory.

SOME EXHIBITS

Guangzhou Liberation Monument  60×60 cm

Guangzhou Liberation Monument located at the center of Haizhu Square. It was built to memorize the victory of the CPC army in Guangzhou. The monument, at a height of 11.5 meters, was carved with grantie by Pan He and Liang Mingcheng upon a base as tall as 3.6 meters. The length of each side is 4.3 meters. At the front side, there carves Ye Jianying’s inscription, with “all power belongs to the people” on each side of the base. At the top of the base, there stood a soldier with a rifle in his right hand and a bundle of flowers in his left hand. In 1959, the decennial of the liberation day, Guangzhou government erected the monument in Haizhu Square. It was listed in Yangcheng Eight Scenic Spots in 1962, and declared major site to be protected. Dismantled during the Cultural Revolution, it was rebuilt in July, 1980.

Officical Face of Haizhu Bridge  60×60 cm

Due to various reasons, Guangzhou has walked slowly in urban construction after Liberation. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall was built before Liberation. Therefor, the new face of city was built on Haizhu Bridge and Haizhu Square.Haizhu Bridge has been the only way to connect Pearl Riversides for a long time which was crowded. The goverment expanded the roads of riversides as the cycle tracks. Traveling across the river could enjoy the official scenes of grand Haizhu Aquare, Guangzhou Hotel, Canton Fair Building, and Overseas Chinese Masion around the Liberation Momument.

Source From:  http://www.redtory.com.cn/english/board_content.php?id=97

Written By Kevin Clare

Frazzled, and driven mad by spoiled toddlers and the daily grind of boarding the metro, going to Dashi bus station to get a bus further out into the soulless fringes of the Panyu “residential estate area”, I needed a break and something of a rejuvenation. A friend called and announced she was visiting Hong Kong and I was duly instructed to take some leave and be there for this happening.

That feeling of taking a bag to work, full of nothing to do with work so you can make a mad dash for the train after being trapped with some feisty three year olds is one of life’s better experiences. And knowing that I was bound for Hong Kong, where I was guaranteed to get an injection of the fast paced, cynical yet positive and over excited medicine that only HK can provide meant that work was just so much better.

Having an equal love of both the city and the country side, Hong Kong never disappoints me. Boarding the KTT is always a good way to start: Simple, efficient, and if you decide to drop a few more Yuan bills, you can sit in first class which makes you forget that the Metro even exists. Crossing the border from Shenzhen into Hong Kong is always good for me to appreciate the changes that China has undergone in such a short time, but for me to also appreciate that Hong Kong territory is a lot more green and you actually get to see some relatively untouched country side so close to one of the world’s most built up areas.

I arrive at the station, and I hear all the familiar noises of the MTR system which I find comfortably nostalgic from my student days in Hong Kong. I walk through the busy tunnels with my iPod blaring and a spring in my step, having long forgotten that annoying brat who was trying to turn me into her personal scratching post just a few hours before. I meet my friend in Tsim Sha Tsui, but feel a quiet drink along the Avenue of Stars is a lot more fitting for a Hong Kong welcome than a night getting dressed up and going to one of the Island’s many new chic bars. My friend had also just got off a long flight.

I stay over on a friend’s couch. And get up early, which is a rare phenomenon, and march my friends off to one of my favourite breakfast joints in the Mid-Levels: The Flying Pan, where I consume my body weight in eggs, bacon, coffee and read real English newspapers which have not been “happied up” too much! Fuelled and ready to go, I did the tour guide thing and as always in this city, I discovered things that I had never encountered before, and had a grand time in the Mid-Levels wet market among the many things that appear strange to my friends’ unaccustomed eyes.

After a bout of obligatory shopping, Dinner is at Gaylord, which is a slightly pricey Michelin Starred Indian restaurant, a stone’s throw away from the less salubrious, but just as delicious ones found in Chung King Mansions. However Gaylord does come without the side of Safety Hazard that Chung King Mansions offers. I note this and am grateful that I am staying at my friend’s house, as my other option is Shanghai Guest House, wedged somewhere on the 16^th floor of Chungking and the elevators are operated by elderly slaves! They are that slow.

After basking in capitalist hedonistic excess for one day, we decide to bask in capitalist hedonistic tourism excess and take the cable car to see the Big Buddha! I had been informed that an improvement had happened, and they weren’t lying to me! All the tourist shops look fancy, and the lady that used to hawk corn near the stairs is gone! They didn’t add an escalator to the Buddha yet which surprises me, knowing how modern Chinese tourism adds convenience machinery to everything nowadays.

Our “spiritual rejuvenation” complete,  we need more food and off to Lin Heung Lau we go, ferried by a mad taxi driver, and this is quite the statement for a Mainland China resident. An entire duck, deboned, and stuffed with eight “treasures”, then glazed and baked overnight arrives at the table, ready for demolition. The wait staff do not attempt to use English at all which makes the experience even more authentic.

More shopping is required by my friends, who are clearly enthralled by the availability that you will not find in Perth, so I find a bookstore and some coffee and hide amongst a selection of books that simply cannot be found here on the mainland. After some heart to hearts with my now ailing bank card, I saunter out with a few books and magazines, and find my friends, who clearly do not suffer from a rather slim bank balance, or they just earn in real dollars.

Sadly, a fun escape needs to come to an end, and after the goodbyes, I reluctantly return to the train station, board a CRH train…no KTT for me, and head back to the grind of living in the lurching madness that is boomtown China! Somehow I feel calmer, more optimistic and slightly readier for challenges again after I have been among the psychosis of Hong Kong…It does that to you.

Want to see more and experience more, please visit:  http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-15/

Written by Jana Holiday

It’s possible that you travel to Hong Kong a lot.  Maybe you travel for business or maybe you use it to stock up on chocolate, deodorant or other hard-to-find items.

Possibly you feel as if you have done all the touristy things there by now.   You’ve been to the Avenue of Stars, the Temple Street Night markets of Tsim Sha Tsui, crossed the river on the Star Ferry and eaten in the restaurants and drunk in the bars of Soho.  You’ve been to the top of the Peak and you’ve been to Disneyland and Ocean Park.  You’ve seen the giant sleeping Buddha on Lantau Island.  So you’ve done it all right?  Wrong.  Here are another six things to do in Hong Kong that you might not have got round to yet.

1. It’s easy to dismiss HK as a concrete jungle, but did you know that it actually contains 23 country parks?  The best and least developed of these is probably Sai Kung Country Park.  You can enjoy all kinds of outdoor pursuits there from trekking to mountain biking and it is possible to camp in many parts.  Windsurfing and kayaking are also popular; the park has more coastline than any other. There are numerous little bays hidden off of the beaten track and it is often possible to find a completely deserted little beach.  If you’re tired of the endless round of shops and bars then it can be good to escape it all for a few days or even just for a few hours.

2. Stanley Market.  Get the bus from Exchange Depot, conveniently marked in English, (yes doesn’t that make life easier?) and you come to this collection of stalls selling clothes (often lots of bigger sizes) and all kinds of stuff.  It’s not full of the bargains so much anymore, but good fun if you enjoy browsing around.  Good if you can go during the week because it’s very crowded at weekends.  There are some nice little beaches on the way there too; Repulse Bay is worth a stop.

3. Lamma Island.  Around half an hour on the ferry will get you to Lamma Island.  Once there you will find some of the best beaches in HK, some excellent hiking trails and abundant seafood restaurants.  There are no cars on the island, and the bicycle is the main mode of transport.  There are no skyscrapers either and the place offers a welcome relief from the sensory overload of Hong Kong Island.

4.Nam Sang Wai, Yuen Long.  This really doesn’t seem like Hong Kong at all. An easy hike along Nam Sang Wai Path, next to the lake.  The spot is very picturesque and popular for wedding photos.   At the end of the path is the Shan Pui River, a wetland park where mangroves and birds can be seen.

5.Apliu market is a quaint little flea market.  You certainly have more chance of a bargain here than you do at the touristy Temple Street Market.  Particularly good for second hand electronics but there are clothes, antiques, jewellery and all types of stuff here. Take the metro to Sham Shui Po.

6.Artists commune, situated in the intriguingly named Cattle Depot Artist Village in the heart of Kowloon this is an art space where both practicing and aspiring local artists hang out, create and exhibit. The displays are mostly different and usually quite ‘edgy’ and well worth a visit.  Open Tuesday to Saturday 2-8, or call to check.

Want to see more and experience more, please visit:  http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-15/

By Lauren Griffins

Last month was the Canton Fair, a time when big shots in ties and suits flock to Guangzhou to play. Well, what if I want to be a big shot too!?

My name is Lauren and today I have taken it upon myself to fulfill one of my biggest dreams! Ok, it is not one of my biggest dreams but I was a little curious, and surely that’s enough. I am a student in Guangzhou but today for one day only I have a pass to the much talked about Canton Fair. So, I figured I’ll dress the part, walk the walk and try (fingers crossed) to talk the talk. Here is what happened:

First hurdle: Getting past the hundreds of people trying to sell you something. For this, I took inspiration from the must-see movie ‘The Devil Wears Prada’. I looked at the street as a catwalk; head held high, swagger on, eyes like daggers to anyone who dared to approach me. Yeah, it worked pretty well. God! I love this

Second hurdle: Looking like you belong. It may be easy to fool street sellers in to thinking you are a serious business big shot, but trying to convince the array of businesses hosting booths in the venue is another story. They have seen them all, they know what to expect. So, I gave it to them! It is all about confidence and appearing as if you know what you are doing.

Third Hurdle: Grasping the lingo. Now it doesn’t matter have confident you are, if you don’t know the lingo then you are obviously an amateur. I had to learn quickly! Now, as all of the booths were displaying their goods, my role as a buyer was to get the best possible deal for my ‘fake company’. The key terms for this are MOQ (minimum order quantity), price per piece, and a fair bit of flirting.

Fourth hurdle: Haggling. This is a must have skill if you want to get a good deal. Often the booths would quote ridiculous numbers. After perusing a few I quickly learned the reasonable from the absurd.

Fifth hurdle: Leaving the beautiful items behind. Some of the items in the booths were incredible; I saw some lovely trinkets for the kitchen and bedroom that I would have brought there and then if they had let me. Not to worry, I found out that on the last day of each cycle of the fair you are able to buy the products from the booths at unbelievable prices!

Final hurdle: Leaving the venue. Leaving after 6 is a huge mistake as everyone tends to go at that time too. The metro is full, the taxi’s are full, the streets are full and you can barely breathe! Also, you are reminded of the hassle that comes with being taken for a newbie to the city. Taxi drivers charge triple the price and topping up your phone has an additional 5rmb charge!

So, in conclusion to my little escapade I have to admit that as fun as it was I’m quite happy to continue in my student lifestyle for at least another year. The business world can be fun for a while, and the power, status and allusions that come with it can be tempting. But, when all said and done, who really wants to worry about conforming to the standards of the big shot lifestyle everyday? So exhausting…..But luckily on this occasion curiosity did not kill the cat.

Want to see more and experience more? please visit: http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-14/now!

By Suzanne Mahadeo

As I walked up and down the rows of three-foot inflatable Santas in Guangzhou’s Haizhu Square, I couldn’t help but remember being a kid at Christmas in New York. The cheesy Christmas decorations for sale behind the plastic reindeers reminded me of the heater hissing in my old house while my brother and I dressed our family’s modest, artificial Christmas tree. My mom would cook a hot meal in the kitchen to counter the freezing temperatures outside. My dad would sit on his favorite armchair, feet up, watching TV or enjoying a well-deserved snooze after work. Our 1930s home in Queens was always cozy during the winter; there was something about walking around Haizhu Square in a t-shirt in December and staring at glittering gold and green ornaments that made me feel a deep sense of bittersweet nostalgia.

The vendors at Haizhu Square’s all-things-kitch flea-market are nice enough, but the extent of their “Christmas spirit” makes a screeching halt at putting on red felt hats and restocking their tiny, white stalls with fake trees and strings of glass decorations. Tipping their tall, bamboo ladders up against a hole in the second floor of the shop is how they scurry up to their storage rooms, where elves might live who assemble the staggering amount of Christmas supplies in Haizhu Square. I wondered who bought all of the artificial trees and what happened to the ones that aren’t sold. And where do all of the decorations go, besides draped across other shops and restaurants getting ready for a Christmas crowd of expats who are too far away from home to celebrate there. And where is “there” anyway? I suppose it’s wherever the earliest or best memories of Christmas are. Whether it was that time climbing up 6000km of Mount Egmont in New Zealand on Christmas day, or further back to when I almost exploded from joy, unwrapping my first glow-worm doll next to the flickering lights of my parents’ Christmas tree.

Wherever it is that you wish to be for Christmas this year, a walk through Haizhu Square will help conjure memories or unlock foresight.

Take metro line #2 to Haizhu Square (D exit), cross the street and prepare for your nostalgia to set in as you explore Yijing Yuan  located at No. 85, Yide Dong Lu . There, you can expect to find Christmas trees of all shapes, sizes (and colours), oversized Santas, colourful ornaments, lights, and even lawn decorations (for all the lawns in Guangzhou) that will remind you of what only have annoyed you back home. Here in China, though, it can serve to either ignite or soothe your homesickness.

Merry Christmas.

Suzanne Mahadeo is a writer and editor from New York, teaching and living in Guangzhou. Get in touch at www.suzannemahadeo.com.

Want to see more and experience more? please visit: http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-14/now!

At first glance, Guangzhou may not appear to be the most festive of places. For a foreigner, Christmas here may even seem none existent. However, after exploring this city for over 2 years I have found some little gems that may just rekindle your Christmas spirit.

Gem Number 1: Dongshankou

This little place situated in Yuexiu district is like walking through a time warp. In contrast to the developing and modern Guangzhou, here lies a piece of its history. Narrow pebbled streets, colonial style villas and a small church are just some of the things you will find here. The thing that stands out most about this place is its sense of community, people are so friendly and willing to help; just the other day I was struggling to carry a bag when a cyclist stopped and offered his help. Christmas is all about community and spirit, you’ll find loads of that here.

Gem Number 2: Beijing Lu

Now maybe you’re wondering why I chose this, yes Beijing Lu is most famous for its shops and the bundles of tourists it attracts on a daily basis. (watchy watchy anyone?) However, when you explore its connecting streets the experience becomes much more than that, especially at night time. The trees are adorned with lights of different colours; any foreigner at first glance would be forgiven for mistaking these lights alone as Christmas décor. What would Christmas be without lights!？

Gem Number 3: Taojin

Taojin is a popular spot for foreigners and because of this you will find many hangouts there that cater for foreign tastes. The Garden Hotel is of course one of them; every year there is a big Christmas tree build in front of the hotel to spread Christmas cheer to all its passers by. There is also a Christmas buffet available on Christmas day! Christmas is not Christmas without a Christmas dinner!

Gem Number 4: Haizhu Square

Haizhu square hosts an array of shops and small market stalls that sell all the decorations you could possibly need to make your apartment feel like Santa’s Grotto, from Christmas trees to blow up Santas. You name it, they’ve got it! There is also an amazing church located nearby where you can enjoy a carol service or just gasp at its amazing architecture. Christmas just doesn’t feel right without a tree and a church!

So, maybe it is not as obvious as Christmas back home, but it is definitely here. You just have to do your research and get a little creative. But, the real secret to Christmas (as cheesy as it sounds) is love, and that my friends, translates across all cultures, cities and festivities.

Want to see more and experience more? please visit: http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-14/now!

Written By Rick Potter

This morning I woke up knowing exactly what I would do today, but not knowing how it would turn out – kind of the way it was everyday in China. Being a foreigner, you pretty much learn to expect the unexpected: nothing ever seems to go the way it’s planned. Later I would come to find out – that today would be no exception.

I gazed out at the clear October sky, choking down previous nights leftovers of kung pao chicken, while carefully examining the list of activities I put together with the assistance of my staff. Typically reluctant of venturing out alone, today was the day to conquer any fear I might have. The city of   Dongguan takes about three hours from one end to the other by bus. My staff had written all my directions on a piece of paper to give to the lucky   drivers who didn’t have a clue how to speak English, and of course my Chinese is about as clear as a man speaking with a mouth full of food while     walking on hot coals barefoot. Not a pleasant verbal experience to listen to.

I strolled down four blocks of sidewalk to the bus stop wearing comfortable tennis shoes, cargo pants and a backpack. I returned nods and an occasional, “Hello, nice to meet you,” in which I always replied, “Hello, do I know you?” Most didn’t have a clue what I was saying, so it always brought laughter from them. People here don’t normally get an opportunity to see a westerner in real life, so we’re constantly the center of attention, something I’ve never gotten quite used to. Bus twenty-one was twenty minutes late, typical for China. I’m glad it wasn’t the number 121 bus. I eyeballed an empty seat and began making my way for it, beating out a younger fellow. The next bus stop brought a grandmother aboard holding a can of powdered baby milk. No seats were available, so I motioned her to take my seat. She insistently refused, but I stood up with a smile suggesting that it was no bother. The younger fellow who I beat out earlier, saw the opportunity and made a dash, throwing himself at my seat. I looked down at him and shook my head, gesturing that it was for the grandmother. He did nothing. Everyone around the immediate area began yelling, but he ignored them. I just left it alone and stared out the window in the opposite direction. It’s better to be passive, especially in a foreign country.

I reached my first destination, the Dongguan Museum of Cultural Arts. I didn’t need the translated piece of paper this time, the bus stopped directly in front of it. The massive western styled architecture sparred no expense. The white pillared building sat well off the street. The beautiful flowered gardens trailed off into the trees along winding paths. Fountains of water divided the walkway leading up to the steps to the entry. There were meticulously painted gazebo’s with table and chairs scattered around the area where flurries of people seriously played board and card games. Others were doing their morning tai chi, as several just took a simple stroll. It was clearly a way to celebrate the day off work.

As I neared the foot of the fountains, everyone turned to see the foreigner, or as we’re referred to in China, lao wai, I began my march to the front doors – feeling like a runway model. Again, I returned smiles and greetings along the way. When I reached the doors, a sign was posted announcing their business hours – 15:00 to 21:00. I stood in awe, wondering what to do next. The back of my neck was being pelted by needles of stares. I turned around and faced the crowd glaring up at me. Perhaps they expected a song and dance from the lao wai. I needed to kill some time, so I decided to find a shaded area that was semi-secluded, an impossibility on this particular morning. I choose a book from my library in my iPad, a handy tool that I never left home without.

A few hours went by undisturbed with the exception of a few children flocking around me like they were viewing a zoo animal. One even offered me some candy which I politely refused. I forgot my ‘Don’t feed the animals’ sign. They dispersed upon the screams of their mother who might have been saying, “Get away from that, do you want to be eaten?!” Harmless as I looked, I must have still been a potential threat – after all, I was getting a bit hungry. Acclimated to Chinese customs, it was nearing 12:00 – time for lunch. I closed my iPad and aimlessly stumbled down the street searching for a place that fed hungry animals.

It was no surprise where the waitress sat me – next to the window. Restaurant staff always sat me where I’d get the most exposure to possible patrons. I couldn’t help but feel that I was on display to attract more customers. As I studied the menu looking for pictures, the waitress came over to take my order. There were no pictures. I was forced to resort to my custom, one of the reasons why I don’t get out much, I surveyed the room then signaled to a dish just being served to a man sitting at a table by himself. I said, “I’ll take that.” The waitress glanced over her shoulder. With a confident stance, she sauntered over to the gentleman, took his plate, and carried it back to me. I watched her with surprise and amazement, but as us foreigners like to say, “TIC,” or “This is China.” With an empty place-mat in front of him, the man spoke to the waitress. She said something back to him then left the room. Embarrassment took over my hunger pains. He continued to glance at me and smile. I smiled and shrugged at him. He motioned to me as if saying, “It’s okay, you look like you need it more than I do.”

Trying to forget about stealing the man’s food, I tried to eat his meal in peace. I soon noticed people clustering on the sidewalk. My first thought was something bad happened. As I paid a little more attention, I noticed that it was me who was attracting all the attention. I honestly felt like a monkey in a zoo. People pointed and motioned others to look at the display in the window – I never thought I’d be a photo opportunity. Complete strangers were laughing and pointing. Did I have food on my face? A blemish? A stray nose hair? I could only interpret their words as, “Oh look, he eats like we do. He even drinks the same way we do.” This spectacle attracted the attention of everyone in the restaurant. My head was squeezing like a vice with glares from both sides. I got out my trusty iPad and began reading. “Oh look, he even reads like we do.”

I had enough. I surveyed the busy room and waved to my waitress – it was time for this monkey to pay the bill and escape from the zoo. She smiled, waved back, and went on with her work. I sat patiently for a few minutes then waved to her again. The same smile, the same wave. I reached in my pocket and waved my cash to her. She worked her way through the tables towards me, pointing at the man whose lunch I just ate. She was trying to tell me he had taken care of my bill. He turned and gave me a wink and a friendly smile. I couldn’t believe it. I steal the man’s food, then he pays for it. You never know what’s going to happen in China, it’s about as consistent as the weather. The man stands up, wearing a pair of dress slacks and black shoes. He looked like he just had a hard day at the office. Standing over me, he asks, “Where are you from?” in almost perfect English.

Introducing himself as Michael, he took the initiative and helped himself to a seat across from me. His wife and children were visiting her parents, so he had the day to himself. He was a Vice President of a large company in town that manufactured and exported portable massage devices. After telling him my plans for the day, he invited me to go hiking with him. He seemed pleasant enough with a good sense of humor, so I gladly accepted – something I never would do. I figured after eating his food for free, it was the least I could do.

During our bout through the Saturday maze of traffic, we chortled over conversation and became better acquainted – my mother would have had a fit for getting into a car with a stranger. The way I looked at it though, I was the stranger. We stopped at the base of the mountain we would soon be hiking. He turned the car off and pointed to the peak. There were many hikers so I knew this was a popular place to hike. It was gift exchange time. I reached in my backpack and gave him a book I wrote. Like others, he requested I write something in it and sign it for him. He then reached in his backseat and gave me a box. It was a portable massage device that his company manufactured. When I returned home that evening, I opened it to find little electrode gel pads that stick to your body along with a controller with various settings. I’m using it right now as I write. We spent the afternoon hiking alongside a rushing river on a beautiful lush hiking path. It was quite steeper than I had anticipated, so several stops along the way were in order. We got along like we were old friends catching up on years missed.

The hike down was just as pleasant as the hike up, but with fewer stops. Being nearly dinner time, 18:00 in China, I accepted his offer to dine with him, but only if he agreed to allow me to pay for it this time. He wouldn’t consider it, “I invited you. It wouldn’t be right for you to pay.” After several attempts of insisting and threatening not to go, he gave in. He took me to what appeared to be a five-star hotel which was soon confirmed by the large marbled lobby and all the upper-scale restaurants outlining the 2^nd floor balcony. At his suggestion, we headed for the finest of them all. It was The Japanese Steak and Sushi House. We took our shoes off and dined on the plush carpeted floor Japanese style. The waitresses donned authentic style Japanese kimono’s with wooden sandals called Geta. It was the best USDA choice steak since being in the west, and the sushi kept coming. We must have sampled every raw fish dish on the menu.

Rubbing our stomachs, Michael excused himself to use the restroom. I sat there for awhile hypnotized by all the empty dishes on the table. I called the waitress over and requested the check. She gestured that it had already been taken care of. He beat me to the punch… again.

Upon arriving home I promised him I’d come to his house sometime to eat dinner and meet his family. I watched him drive away and disappear into the night. On the way up the elevator my mind was busy rehashing the day. I took out the piece of paper from my pocket; reviewed my plans for the day; formed into a small snowball; then tossed into the waste basket. Once again, I learned to expect the unexpected, but this time I didn’t mind. I did something I normally wouldn’t have done today, I said ‘yes,’ and I met a good friend.

Want to see more and experience more? please visit: http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-14/now!

 By Steven Trice

       Most have heard or dreamed of the movie glamour famous actors receive after their blockbuster hit. Some are jaded enough to know that those dreams aren’t exactly real, or at least come with some consequence. But few know exactly what goes on during a movie shoot, so I set out to discover the truth. I took a visit down to Nanhai Film City, which is located in the backwoods of Foshan, and sat down with an actor-friend of mine who happened to be shooting a movie trailer there at the time. (You can take the No. 2 travel bus from the Zumiao Metro Station and ride until you see a giant replica of a castle wall.)

If you don’t have any clue what Nanhai Film City is, here’s the nutshell. It’s half tourist attraction and half movie set. People like me who are just traveling, get to venture into the old movie sets that aren’t routinely used and refashioned anymore. And even though it’s all fake, it still commands the same majesty as Beijing’s Forbidden City, except without the thousands of tourists shoving and pushing to take pictures.

The first part you get to enter is the Ancient China reproduction. Mock temples and throne rooms are the focus of this area. Details are not given any expense. White stone leads the way while the wooden buildings have the same decay and touch as the real thing. The famous stone slabs of dragons soaring up the stairs in the Forbidden City are replicated here with wooden carvings. It’s actually quite a favorite among photographers and newlyweds to capture an amazing picture there. If you want a cheesy picture, you can always pay the local vendor there to dress you up in old Emperor robes and take a photo. Or you can just keep roaming about, pondering the idea that all this fakeness is its own reality. It may not be the real thing, but it has its own history.

A couple days after my visit, my friend got a call from his agent to shoot a movie trailer at Nanhai Film City. He scored a “Henchman” role and headed down there around noon. Like anyone who scores a movie gig, he was ecstatic. Someone was employing his skills and he had the chance to do the one thing he loved. But after talking to him, I found a different side to the acting job, one he’s quite familiar with. The reason I said he went down there at noon is that he ended up staying there for 17 hours before they actually got to his part – at 5 a.m. He showed up to his regular job with no sleep. Some of you who are reading this may think it’s not worth it or why did he have to wait so long? Can they not be more organized?

The answer is quite simple. Making a movie is an art. It can’t be rushed and sometimes you have to do things over and over until it’s just right. There’s no pleasure in waiting, but that’s the job. In Hollywood, there’s a phrase for actors: “Hurry up and wait.” Everyone hurries to get on set, but once there, a lot of people have to sit around and watch the scene slowly be made. And what do you do when you’re waiting for so long? Trade war stories … so to speak.

Fellow actors talk about other movies they’ve been on. They talk about who they know, what they’ve done, and at the end of the day, they make connections. Networking is the one thing that helps them get future gigs. If you’re a socialite, this might be the perfect job for you. And after making friends comes the filming part.

My friend shot his scene dozens of times before they wrapped things up. All he had to do was jump out of the way when a canister blew up. But to make sure they got the right shot, they did it over and over until they were satisfied it couldn’t get any better. After speaking to my friend, he told me that’s the life. Some actors are a little egotistical and don’t like waiting. Others are comfortable being an extra in a film, and consequently, being the last called. Depends who you are, he said. But another interesting point I asked him about was the difference between shooting films in America and China.

Making the movie is the same. Budget may be different, but the wires and cameras are the same. Seeing the fakeness does take a little out of the “movie magic,” but there is still something special about appearing on screen. However, the main difference lies with organization. Hollywood producers know which materials to get and have experience filming scenes. They know how to do it efficiently. Chinese filmmakers are a little more splotchy with their shooting and don’t communicate as effectively to foreigners.

Another thing that’s interesting is the amount of freelance photographers snapping photos at the actors. Even my friend, who has a minor role, still commands a decent amount of attention from the camera. But the question is “what are the photos for?” What photographers like to do is take pictures of actors and Photoshop their faces to other photos. Personally, I’ve seen my face cut off my body and attached to a more muscular version of me and then pasted in a bar that I drink at. Rules and copyright laws don’t exactly apply the same way in China, which can be irritating for some uprising actors – especially when no credit goes to you and you’re not getting paid for it.

Second, is that Chinese filmmakers may only want your face. I asked my friend if he has ever been dubbed over in Chinese, and the answer was no. But he has seen other actors being dubbed over and he himself was dubbed over by another English voice before. For a commercial, his voice was replaced with a more “handsome” voice, or so the producers told him. Being cut up or having parts of yourself being switched out for “better” versions can have an effect on your mindset, especially when you take pride in your work. The key is not to take it personal. Filmmakers have an image of what they want and they’re employing you for whatever part they need. No actor is the centerpiece and gets exactly what he wants. Those who try are usually forced out.

So, after passing through the Ancient China reproductions and hitting up the old Hong Kong sets, I remembered that an actor’s life is truly in a world of its own. Their work schedule and pay is not stable, and they work longer hours doing repetitive scenes over and over – just at different camera angles. It’s tedious and boring, but when the final film is cut, you get to cherish your efforts on screen forever. In a way, it reminds me of writing a novel. Huge amounts of time are spent nailing out such small details that it seems pointless doing it, but at the end, those are the details that sell your product. Keep that in mind when you watch your next movie. Nothing is ever as glamorous as it seems.

Want to see more and experience more? please visit:http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-13/now!

Written by: Rik Glauert

At times, Guangzhou’s nightlife can seem a tad stagnated. Recent arrivals in particular could fail to see past the reams of identical drinking spots that litter the popular bar streets. Following the blaring chart pop music you’ll undoubtedly find a generic pit full of beautiful people and expensive drinks. I know we have all found ourselves in such a place for a Pijiu-fuelled dance on a Friday night. However, more often than not we would rather be in a location that has character, ambience and a bit of an edge – somewhere with ‘je ne sais quoi’. It is in places such as these where people can relax, unwind and engage with like-minded people – rather than drink and dance themselves into oblivion.

Of course, alternative drinking dens that cater for an eclectic taste in music and polite conversation do exist in Guangzhou. You just have to delve behind the glitzy neon main streets, past the vomiting masses and down quiet alleyways to find these watering holes. Indeed, in Guangzhou, it often seems as though the further you divulge from the main highways and the longer you have to look for these places the greater the reward – the harder a place is to find the more you can expect to be engaged, impressed and submersed in a place that is truly creative and original.

If distance from the beaten track, therefore, is a good indication as to the truly alternative or bohemian nature of a bar, then LOFT345’s location sets itself up as quite the gem. I first heard rumours of this alternative bar housed in a factory and riddled with contemporary art over 6 months ago. However, after two late-night failed sojourns into Haizhu district I had still failed to locate the elusive yet notorious LOFT345. It was only after a slightly more sober approach and the assistance of a friend who had already gained entry that I finally found the old factory, and the mysterious bar perched on its third floor.

So what did I discover when I finally stumbled upon this lost city of Atlantis? LOFT345 is so called because it occupies the third, fourth and fifth floor of the Xiao Gang Hua Yuan factory building. The majority of this space is filled with artist studios – deliberately kept on short cheap leases to allow students to develop and present their art -work. Nestled between these studios on the fourth floor is this extraordinary bar, moderated by a long haired American named Benjamin.

The bar retains the feel of the surrounding studios with its open plan, rustic floorboards and exposed brick. The whitewashed walls are covered from floor to ceiling with dramatic and conceptual graffiti. Avoiding a tacky ‘anyone can write what they like’ approach often found in backpacker hostels, the wall art proves thought provoking and intelligent as well as aesthetically pleasing. Moreover, it complements the other works of sculptures and fine art dotted around the bar.

Therefore LOFT345 achieves what it sets out to do in creating an artistic atmosphere as ‘unpretentiously as possible’. LOFT345 does not have the pseudo artiste and pompous feel of an establishment unintelligently filled with minimalist furniture and expensive canvasses trying to be bohemian. LOFT345 is a living and breathing studio and art gallery – where anyone can have a drink. LOFT345 allows you to sit on vintage furniture, listening to an incredible range of alternative music whilst surrounded by some of the best from Guangzhou’s up-and-coming artists.

LOFT345’ begun in 2003 as Park19, establishing itself as a space for young artists, musicians and sculptors to mingle, creating a hub of Guangzhou’s emerging contemporary art scene. Guangzhou has often been depicted as lagging somewhat behind its older brothers Beijing and Shanghai. Boasting neither Beijing’s 798 Art District or Shanghai’s Moganshan. Park19, and its evolution into LOFT345, however, has played its part in fostering Guangzhou’s thriving contemporary art culture that Benjamin describes as ‘very real and very good’.

So, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, providing the ideal environment for like-minded people to explore artistic ideas. The drinks are affordable and the staff are friendly. Throughout the week the bar plays music for virtually every ear. Jazz, funk, blues, punk, rock and everything in between find their way out the speakers. For those needing further entertainment there is also a pool and Foosball table (tournament taking place on the 11^th of next month). At the weekend the bar hosts live music and there are often and a whole host of spoken word events, installations and exhibits.

How to get there

If this sounds like your sort of thing, listen carefully to these instructions. Take the metro to Jiang Nan Xi Station on line two. You need to walk about 500 metres east along Jian Nan Dong Lu, beside the river. Continue walking until the end of the brick factories and take the left hand gate to the first white building. The door is on the left hand side of the building and you need to take the lift up to the 4^th floor. Once there, grab yourself an inexpensive drink on a retro seat and take some time to absorb the absurdity of your surroundings. Relax and appreciate some bohemian living in one of the first bastions of Guangzhou’s contemporary art scene.

Want to see more and experience more? please visit:http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-13/now!

By Steven Trice

       When I was young, I was taught art was a language, a language of ideas. I was taught it was an avenue to speak to others or maybe themselves or maybe far-off aliens who might pick this up on the internet. You never know, but what I know now is that one of the coolest places to experience these ideas in Guangzhou is at Redtory. Occupying and flipping an old factory into several warehouses of art leaves ample room for different ideas.

When I jumped off the metro at Yuancun (Line 5), I wasn’t sure what to expect of this place. A week earlier I received a business card from a friend to check out a hip restaurant that had decent Western food and kept you interested with all the art inside and out. But from the metro exit, your mind gets a little boggled at how you seem to be in the middle of a dirt road with only one small street of hustling buses and taxis.

The actual gallery is a little hard to find, being tucked away behind a bumpy back alley of small shops and being located in an area that hasn’t had much use for the past decade or so. And getting a normal taxi is useless since they can’t go down the road, so I bargained with one of the motorbike taxis lying around. The place was quite near, but as the driver told me, I would’ve lost my way the first time. Five Yuan isn’t that bad anyways, considering the gallery is free.

I first dropped off at the Iron Curtain Gallery Restaurant and Bar, being hungry from the ride there. It’ll be one of the first storehouses you pass by, and it’s a good warm-up before heading deeper into the hive of galleries that will bombard your mind. They claim to be the first and only place to serve wood-fired pizza in Guangzhou, so if you’re a foodie you should give them a shot. I have yet to prove them wrong on their boast, and I will say the pizza is damn good. But this isn’t a food piece. It’s an art piece.

If any of you have ever been to Applebees in America, you’ve probably taken a good look at the fake cinematic memorabilia hanging from the walls and ceiling. Some people enjoy it, others don’t care, and others just forget about it over time. Iron Curtain is not overloaded with stuff like that, but it has the same feel. Model planes made from iron and antique liquor bottles decorate the bookshelves that divide parts of the restaurant. Old movie posters decorate one wall while on the opposite you can look out through a panoramic window, admiring the large banyan tree stretching its limbs over the place. Even the menu jumpstarts your mind as it’s encased in a worn out, long forgotten novel. By themselves, these things don’t seem much, but together it really sets the atmosphere for all the impressions you’re going to receive afterwards.

After chowing down on some pizza, I headed out and made my way to the first warehouse. Stripped down to its brick walls, dozens of illuminated pictures offset the old muskiness that still seems to fight the soul of the place. It’s an odd fusion when you think about it. Modern, and sometimes satirical, pictures crowd the floor where iron was once pulled. Fresh ideas cut into the hardiness of once-structured work. In a way, the place has broken free of its chains, getting your mind contemplating a screaming Statue of Liberty or feeling like you’re standing under Cuban sunlight. There are a myriad of things you can think as every picture invokes a different thought.

When you finish with that warehouse, you can head out the back door and pass through a small alleyway that leads to the back warehouses. The next one I hit was filled with oil paintings. Like the other warehouse, this one was gutted, offering plenty of breathing room to snake around and muse over the different interpretations of approaching death. At least that’s what I took as the motif for the building. There’s a mixture of abstract and concrete art, all seeming to remind me of death or after-death. If you hit one of your epiphanies or get one of those cold waves of nerves down your spine, this place will probably invoke it. Some pieces foretell our doom with a shower of planet destroying meteors or black smog that eats away our inner-selves. Then there are the contemporary, abstract ones with demons and monsters robustly taking center stage. They resemble a harsher portrayal of the monsters from ­­Where the Wild Things Are, which really plays with your imagination. I even had a horrifying cinematic experience in my mind. Though I got a little creepy and put off, the fact that someone invoked emotion means they did their job. It means that art actually did something rather than steal space, and for that, I’m pleased.

As I rounded my way around and took one last glance before exiting, I had another small thought, one that can expand into so many other things. I wondered if working in an iron factory twenty years ago would do that to me – that is turn me into a disfigured zombie who either welcomed death or death just wasn’t enough. I wondered if it would transform my life into something morbid and soulless, doing nothing but the same routine over and over, unable to escape the mouse’s wheel I ran on.

So I ventured on, making sure I wasn’t on any wheel at the moment. I entered the next warehouse and instantly recognized what this place was about. Women. As a man, I have no problem with that, but past that stereotypical trait, the art was actually intoxicating. Different color schemes and portraits of the female face held such gravity, my eyes fought to switch to the next piece. Details were everything. Full blown eyes filled with desire, lips luscious and bulbous enough to make you kiss the canvas, and hair that could change your heart with every depiction made me feel like I could only stare at a treasure when every ounce of me wanted just one gentle touch, one little caress. I don’t know if I’m crazy for thinking such things or if maybe residual chemicals from the factory played with my intellect, but I do occasionally still think about the faces I saw there.

After my crushing exit, I walked into the next warehouse. Here, old train photos lined the interior like a locomotive, but the focus wasn’t the train itself. It was the people boarding the trains during the most hectic times – when millions crowd and stampede the cabooses during the holidays. Images from feet sticking out windows, arms hanging out doors, and bodies cramming into aisles were just the appetizer. The pictures had such an angle you felt like you were standing right there with them at the time. People looked dumfounded as they pointed and voiced complaints to authorities. Others just accepted the situation and went for the ride. It was quite a rainbow of emotions and personalities. The countless ways people react and change stirs your mind into thinking how you would react or how people would react in the modern world today, when chaos unleashes the unknown self to our conscious.

Feeling the need to hop off that train, I jumped out and entered the last exhibition: Warehouse No. 6. This was by far one of the coolest places as everything was decked out in communist memorabilia, ranging from posters to a mock room of a Communist believer. I personally dubbed it “Mao Zedong’s Bedroom”. Classic posters of soldiers raising their weapons to defend their people or portraits of Mao himself were common. There were other art pieces depicting traditional Communist stories like the Match Story. The coolest one was the spoof on George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River with his Continental Army. This one had Mao at the forefront of his little rowboat with a giant red flag, his people sitting miserable in the depths of winter. All in common was the art’s theme: Anti-culture. Fighting dominant culture was the excuse to take up arms and begin dismantling it. If it wasn’t red, it was wrong.

And looking at that, Redtory has done a superb job defying that principle. Culture voiced through art is the one thing you can take from all the exhibitions. Everyone had their own accent and character to add, not to mention they took a relic of a factory and turned it into a living piece of ideas. It was an escape from the monotonous replay of classic art and sculpture, being Western or Eastern. There was a fusion of both, morphing your mind into a new respect for the cultures we step through. Redtory certainly struck a chord with their motto: Revolutionary. Instead of tearing culture down, they’re rebuilding it from the ashes of an old factory and in a new light. Go ahead artists, pat yourselves on the back. I certainly would.