<A>Art lives in Chongqing

It's an Artist's Life.

I was perusing the Jiefangbei shopping mall last weekend in Chongqing CBD, with my friend Eileen. Amongst one of my seemingly futile attempts to persuade her of the benefits to be had from purchasing a micro mini skirts, and high heel boots - in mid winter - we stumbled across the Spot Light Gallery.

Seeing some beautiful "Contemporary Art" work inside, we wondered in for a closer inspection. Eileen, girlfriend - come translator. A sometimes unwilling participant in my bourgeois shwa-rays acted as go-between, for what was to be my inquisition of the poor young curator. Whom, in any regard, could to no extent answer any of my questions regarding the exhibition, shop or otherwise. We were advised that the girl who owned the gallery - a beautiful "hao may nu", spoke very good English. The formalities of card swapping then took place with lots of fumbling. As is usual, when both parties try to give cards at the same time using both hands - a strange quirk of Chinese etiquette.

With not much on the agenda this week. And after spending three hours at the printers, printing out copies of my digital media portfolio - the inspiration of such an undertaking burning in my hot little hands. I decided to call about a meeting with the elusive "hao may nu" of the Spotlight Gallery - with the hope of procuring some wall space within her prime location.

As is usual for a foreigner in China, my call sparked instant interest. And one hours later - a bus trip form Yubei Dist. - landed me in a meeting with the beautiful Shirley Yang - the studio's director. Beaming proudly, i presented my portfolio - of now monumental size, and resembling the first edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica. With sparks of joy in her eyes, Shirley slowly examined each image, with the care and interest very few people foster - due to its daunting content. A steadily increasing stream of friends, work colleagues, and associates started to arrive. Mobiles buzzed - with the interest of this foreign body. Perched on their leather recliner, i viewed the proceedings with great interest. A few minutes passed before I was then introduced to one of the arts on exhibition, who hurried in to take a seat opposite. A Chinese American now turned up and was assigned as business interpreter. When we were all confortably settled, we procceded into deep dialogue... Business aside. i was offered wall space, and the hope of friendship through common interest ran deep.

Arrival at the Loft.

With electricity in the atmosphere, and a hurried vibrance. They invited me to an exhibition at the Loft Gallery - location unknown - somewhere in Chongqing City. Following swiftly behind Shirley and her artist friend, we were ushered into a waiting BMW for the trip to the Loft.

On arrival at the Loft Gallery, we were greeted with the usual hustle and bustle of CQ on the street outside - inside the walled court yard, the car came to rest next to an old Chinese tank. Parked - Not painted in flowers or the content of a profound sculpture piece. Just quietly rusting to the sound of human traffic. After some formalities and a cigarette, we ventured into the gallery space for a closer look.

The other side of art

'Before we explore the space, i would like to tell you a little about what i have experienced to-date, with regards to Chongqing, and it's art culture.'

Most of the art and artists I've discovered in and around the city, offer a range of well crafted reproduction work - silk scrolls, oil paintings, calligraphy etc. And although beautiful works in themselves, they lack any real vision. I find this a shame; because the "master craftsmen" that make these works - i say this with an emphasis on "craftsmen". Purely copy to perfection. A wast of their talent in my eyes, but nevertheless, a lucrative business i suspect. There seems to be a huge market demand for such work in China. Art, in my mind anyway, is of a creative form - not technical. However, a technical medium used as a tool in creating an art piece is wonderful. I see their mind in the craft - not the creation. I'm left wanting, and seeking at least some level of diversity in form - personal achievement devoid of the commercial systemic nature of things. The commercial quality of form, although, sometimes beautiful. I fear, lacks the creative edge to challenge me - as real works should truly do.

The New China

The area was reminiscent of the London docks - lit by western urban undertones. Graffiti could be sighted on the far walls of the car park. Little warehouses, with painted doors, sporting what seemed to be spacious studios lay neatly rowed down the long driveway.

The minimalistic whitewashed exhibition space gave me a cold-shiver-down-my-spine - so reminiscent of home. Modern, classic contemporary, gallery spaces that are sporadically doted around most western cities. Although, the bleak images in large format print and paintings did give me the insight into the Chinese sub-cultures i have been so desperately seeking - again, the innocent quality about the whole scene gave me flash-backs to the tried and trusted format of standard western exibitions in Modern Art. One work however, kindly translated to me from Chinese by Shirley, was titled - ice-box - A beautiful work in oils, of an old refrigerator containing a Buddha's head religious relics and some dirty coke cans in the door compartment, this explained in no uncertain terms - in my mind anyway, the new China.

My work for the Gallery.

Currently "Untitled" 80x120cm. Medium - Oils on Canvas - drying and waiting to be
delivered to it's new home in the Spot Light Gallery. The work consists of two primary colours "yellow/ Red", and black. My idea for the painting came from a fusion of Chinese, western and native philosophy. Using a native Australasian "dot painting" technique "in yellow" to give texture to the work. Black, red and yellow in Aboriginal paintings are also significant - representing the fundamental powers of nature, like earth, light and darkness. In the Chinese culture, red is a symbol of luck and fire. Yellow, is a divine colour, with a history of royal notoriety. Black is attributed to water. This painting is a reflection of the opposing powers that work in harmony to bring creation. I have tried to brake things down to the simplest form and produce a work that encapsulates this idea in a bold contemporary fashion.