I’ve been working quietly on my “Art and Smog” documentary project since returning from China this summer. I had an amazing nine months reconnecting with my main characters from 25 years ago. The societal pursuit of material advantages and profit, and the competition for survival, has overshadowed their earlier ideals of an honest and caring humanity. Their art reveals the confusions, pressures, fears, and need for refuge that they feel. Their words and images speak not only to their felt experience in China but also to the pains many people in the world experience today, even in the United States.
I already miss the amazing people I got to know in Beijing. I interviewed and spent time with many people who were generous with their thoughts and suggestions. Here are a few favorite photos I’d like to share.
Here, I’m taking a farewell photo with painter Heiyang (left), who came to Beijing from Chongqing, Sichuan as a “vagabond artist” in 1991. He declined to participate in my current documentary, even after several entreaties. He says he no longer wants to chase fame and prefers a modest life. He still lives in the artists’ enclave of Songzhuang. I finally got to meet his daughter (right), who speaks English, works for a French logistics company, and will pursue graduate studies. Heiyang’s formal education ended with primary school, and beyond that he is self-taught. He is a deep thinker. Too bad he won’t be in the film!
I wanted to explore the struggles of female artists. With me here are three up-and-coming painters, who unlike their male peers need to weigh the consequences of deprioritizing home duties and family life in order to pursue their art. From left to right are Chen Hui, Xi Danni, and Wu Didi, best friends.
Chen Hui fell in love with Xia Xiaowan when she was 19 and has been his champion partner and promoter ever since. Now she would like to make time for her own art. Her story will be in the film.
Curator Liao Wen shared with me her observations on China’s changing society and the struggles of artists in a commercialized environment. She especially has encouraged women artists, beginning with her 1995 exhibition titled Women’s Approach to Chinese Contemporary Art. She reminds Westerners that feminism in China was a reaction to the socialist past where women had too much to bear in “holding up half the sky” because the men did not hold up half the household in turn. So, in the early 1990s, a celebration of home life and feminine frills was considered a liberation. With a background in Chinese literature, she is interested in artists who can connect the development of Chinese art with its past, in a coherent progression.
Photography artist Xing Danwen graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 1992. Her early photojournalism career, frequent travels to Europe, and MFA studies in New York gave her a wide perspective to explore global questions in her art. She was kind to welcome me to her farmhouse home on the outskirts of Beijing, and we both got some shooting done.
I found Mushi in Chongqing, where he grew up. A love of art brought him together with Heiyang as children, and as teenagers they started a modern art movement in Chongqing. Soon they moved to Beijing to join the big world of idealistic modern artists. Mushi returned to Chongqing during financial hardships in 1997 and became an antiques dealer. He brought me to meet his parents. His father was a KMT parachutist who got left behind in mainland China. So many interesting stories that tempt me!
Su Xinping (right) was always busy, whether going to administrative meetings at the Central Academy of Fine Arts or participating in or jurying national exhibitions out of town. Here he is greeting painter Liu Xiaodong (left) and art historian Yin Jinan (center) at his solo exhibition in Guangzhou. I was lucky to secure his time for several thoughtful interviews.
Xia Xiaowan gets around the city by Jeep now instead of riding a bicycle, as he did in 1991. Here he is adding gas on our way to his studio in Songzhuang. Some of our best interviews took place in the car. The phrase 加油! (Add gas!) in Chinese is a cheer to keep going.
At left is Tang Yu, who helped me tremendously. Most of all, having liked my 1990s film, he had absolute faith in my work and did all he could to facilitate my current project. He graduated from CAFA with a master’s degree in art history, stayed on to assist Su Xinping, and is curating exhibitions of new art.
Now I’m back home in Newton, Massachusetts, methodically poring through video files. Key ideas are making their way out of my hard drives, notebooks, transcription binders, notecards, and mind. I’ve begun editing some thematic highlights, which is an exciting process, and I plan to complete a rough cut by June. I will be looking for musicians and professional post-production talents to complete the film.
While shooting the documentary last year, I also participated in many activities of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar program, which truly broadened my horizons. I saw the modernization gap between the powerhouse cities in China, such as Beijing, and the peripheral cities, such as Changchun and Xiamen. I also had a chance to visit Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, coming away with a fuller appreciation of their entwined histories and culture, mixed with China’s.
Nara, Japan. A quiet street in the old town, away from the tourists.
Taipei, Taiwan. Colorful individuality in group formation.
Beijing, China. A little bit of garden in the snow.
Seoul, Korea. Aesthetic pleasure arranged outside a tea room at the National Museum.
I suppose in a few centuries some other traveler, maybe from Mars, will remark on the entwined histories and culture of North America and Asia.
Oh Lydia how wonderful to hear of your progress!!! I have thought of you so often and of our time together at Red Gate Beijing. I am so excited for you and can’t wait to see your end result/documentary.
Gosh if only we could be here when the Martians arrive. Perhaps they will start here in New Zealand :-).
Hope the editing is going well!
Thanks, Wella! I just finished a short work sample introducing the main characters. I feel really excited about that.
Dear Lydia, I really enjoy reading your thoughts. Congratulations on all your progress. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Oh Lydia how wonderful to hear of your progress!!! I have thought of you so often and of our time together at Red Gate Beijing. I am so excited for you and can’t wait to see your end result/documentary.
Gosh if only we could be here when the Martians arrive. Perhaps they will start here in New Zealand :-).
Much love and Christmas wishes to you. Andrea
Congratulations on all your progress Lydia! I love the comment about Martian visitors 🙂