Wednesday, May 28, 2008

WU Gaozhong's Windshield Wipers



Since I can only view blogspot via a proxy (thanks to the Chinese firewall), I can't tell if the video is loading or not. Here's a direct link to Youtube if you can't see the video.

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WU Gaozhong's Spectral Memory Opens Today at Zendai MoMA in Shanghai




Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Wild and Wooly at Wu Gaozhong's Solo Exhibition at the Zendai MoMA in Shanghai




Today Chinese artist Wu Gaozhong drove a car covered with millions of black boar bristles around Shanghai's Pudong district as part of the Zendai MoMA 366 Intrude exhibition series, and as a precursor to his solo exhibition which opens tomorrow at the same place.

Spectral Memory is the way I decided to render “悚然的回忆”,the title for Wu Gaozhong's show given by the venerable Chinese critic Li Xianting, who has taken an extended hiatus from the world of curating, with the rare case of ongoing support for exceptional artists like Wu Gaozhong. The literal meaning of ”悚然的回忆“ comes from an idiom and could be translated as "hair-raising," but I didn't want to telegraph the artist's visual punch that way, or give away the punchline, if you will, so prematurely, so elected for a more metaphorical rendering, after much consultation with the Lao Li and the artist. Besides, "hair-raising" is too much like the title of a horror movie, whereas Spectral Memory captured the ghostly, haunting feeling that comes with the sorts of remembrance that Wu Gaozhong's work elicits.

Tomorrow, Spectral Memory (reloaded) launches at the Zendai MoMA 证大现代艺术馆, as Wu Gaozhong's first solo exhibition in Shanghai. With a powerful array of all new works, the show promises to offer a madeline cookie dipped in tea (to paraphrase Proust), to take us down our own rembrances of things past. With his carved wooden sculptures of everyday objects from mundane life to pivotal moments, embedded with black boar bristle to give the appearance of sprouting hair, Wu Gaozhong offers sites of intimate remembrance that connect the minutiae with the macro, and the personal with the larger experiences of us all.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Expected Dead Now Numbered at over 70,000


China says over 70,000 dead or missing from quake


By Lucy Hornby

CHENGDU, China (Reuters) - China raised the number of dead or missing from a devastating earthquake to more than 70,000 on Tuesday, as rescuers found another survivor eight days after the huge tremor hit.

A government statement said the number killed had now topped 40,000, and state news agency Xinhua reported that a further 32,000 were missing.

Authorities had previously said they expected the final death toll to exceed 50,000. More than 247,000 were injured.

In Wenchuan county, epicenter of the May 12 quake in mountainous Sichuan province, rescuers found a man alive after 179 hours buried in the rubble, state media said.

Ma Yuanjiang, 31, a power plant executive, spoke after he was rescued, but his body was "as fragile as that of a newborn baby", Chongqing Xinqiao hospital president Wang Weidong said.

"The next 12 hours are crucial for Ma's survival. The patient finished the first half of a life miracle, now we are trying to do the second," Xinhua quoted Wang as saying.

His rescue came as authorities tried to restore calm in the provincial capital, Chengdu, after tens of thousands rushed into the streets overnight alarmed by a television prediction of another powerful earthquake.

But as darkness fell over Chengdu on Tuesday thousands of residents prepared makeshift shelters to sleep outside, too afraid to stay overnight in their homes.

PLEASE READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE HERE:

Lots of info on China Quake Relief here



With links to places for your donations and up to date news links!

Donate Online Now

* AU: Australian Red Cross
* CA: Oxfam
* CA:Canadian Red Cross
* DE: German Red Cross
* HK: Oxfam
* HK: Red Cross
* JP: Japan Red Cross
* NZ: New Zealand Red Cross
* NZ: Oxfam
* UK: British Red Cross
* UK: China Embassy Appeal
* UK: Oxfam
* UK: SaveTheChildren
* UK: UNICEF
* US: American Red Cross
* US: Mercy Corps
* US: World Vision

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China Earthquake Benefit at the Three Shadows Photography Art Center


China Earthquake Benefit at the Three Shadows Photography Art Center


On May 12th 2008, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck China’s Sichuan province. With over 30,000 victims, the scope and scale of this tragedy has shocked people all over the world. In response, Three Shadows is bringing together friends and family for a united effort benefiting the earthquake victims. A fundraiser, including charity sale and silent auction, will take place in Three Shadows’ fourth exhibition hall, concluding with a special Sichuan Earthquake Benefit on Sunday, May 25th. In addition to a donation box for collections, Three Shadows has called upon its widespread network of artists and creative individuals for artwork, signed publications, and special classes to donate to the charity sale and silent auction. All profits from the event will be given to the China Red Cross for earthquake disaster relief.

When one person is in trouble, many people can help. Three Shadows hopes you’ll get involved!

The Three Shadows Fundraiser is accepting donations for the charity sale and silent auction immediately. Any items – artworks, books, gift certificates, etc. – are welcome. Beginning on May 21st, Three Shadows will exhibit the donated items in the exhibition hall. Items will be collected through May 25th, the day of the Sichuan Earthquake Benefit. Please contact Three Shadows to coordinate donations.

The following artists have generously donated works:

RongRong & inri
Adou (Sichuan native)
Xiong Wenyun (Sichuan native, donating 1999 photographs from Wenchuan county, the earthquake epicenter)
Zhao Liang
Qiu
Huang Lei
Gao Bo (Sichuan native)
He Yunchang
He An
Mo Yi
Jiang Zhi
Yu Bogong
Han Lei
Wang Huaxiang
Cai Weidong
Lian Dongya
Zhang Baijun
Han Bing
Maya Kovskaya
Chen Qiulin(Sichuan native)
Qiu Zhijie
Lu Yanpeng
Sun Hongbin
Wang Xu
Liu Yuan
Li Tianyuan
Artists from the Pace/MacGill Gallery (USA)
Alberto Garcia-Alix (Spain)
Scott Graham (USA)
Aislinn Legett (Canada)
Oystein Ruud (Norway)
Wang Binglong…

In addition, other items already donated include:

Signed books by writers Hong Ying (Sichuan native) and Adam Williams
Three-day tour of Pingyao by Wild China journeys
A complete set of Immersion Guide books
Portrait Session with artist Claudia Baez (New York)
A One-on-One Darkroom Tutorial with photographers Chip Rountree and Liu Yuan (English or Chinese)
Signed, limited edition books by the Three Shadows Publishing House
Makeover by MeiLi Autumn Style Consulting
Truffles by Isabelle
Dinner for four prepared at your home by Chef Meng
Jewelry by Isabelle
Facial by Catherine de France
Wine by Pauze and Associates
Organic Vegetarian Food by Mrs. Shanen’s …

Special Exhibit: May 21st -25th, 10am-6pm (closed Mondays)

Sichuan Earthquake Benefit: Sunday, May 25th, 3-6pm (Shuttle bus from Lido Starbucks to Three Shadows from 2:30pm to 4:30pm. Please call to reserve.)

Venue: 155A, Caochangdi, Chaoyang District, Beijing



For more information:

Stephanie Tung (English): 64319063 ext 8004

Yam Chan (Chinese): 64319063 ext 8019

Please check all items at: http://3shadows.blogbus.com/

Please call us or send us an email to participate if you cannot be on site:support@threeshadows.cn

Three Shadows Photography Art Centre

May 18, 2008

Rising to meet the challenge


Today was another day of crushing news about the growing casualty count in the earthquake stricken regions of China's Southwest, but it was also a day of uplifting stories about people who rose to the challenge--a 9 year old boy who carried injured classmates out of his collapsing school on his back; a survivor who was pulled from the wreckage i shock but still alive after an unthinkable 179 hours of being buried alive.

I wept today reading of the 60-something year-old homeless beggar man who felt compelled to do something."Those people have it worse than me, I have to try to help them," he said. The first time he went to the donation center in Nanjing, he was only able to offer about 5 yuan (less than a dollar) in loose change. Spurred on by his desire to somehow help, he began aggressively (but respectfully) panhandling and able to produce almost 100 yuan (about 15 dollars), the third time he went to donate, this raggedy old homeless man in tattered clothing counted out over 300 yuan in small change and small bills, as his respectful contribution.

Every drop counts, people.

These People Need ALL of Our HELP!








Monday, May 19, 2008

PLEASE HELP THE VICTIMS OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN CHINA



Dear Friends,

I am writing to appeal for help of any kind for the victims of the catastrophic earthquake that hit Southwestern China on May 12th. Initially estimated at 7.9, the quake has now been revised to an 8.0 magnitude, but the devastation it has wrought is fundamentally unmeasurable.

While the Western media has covered this event to an extent, information will surely begin to peter off as other "news," like Paris Hilton's latest hairdo seizes the media's fickle attention. Meanwhile, the human suffering caused by this colossal natural disaster is only just unfolding and the need for aid in the form of money, medical supplies, expertise and assistance, clothing, shelter, clean water, food, baby formula, and other basic life necessities will only increase and become more urgent as time goes by.

I hope that each one of you can reach inside your heart and offer whatever kind of support and assistance you can to help ease this devastating calamity.

A few basic up-to-date facts and info about the current situation.

To date, over 32,000 people have been confirmed dead. This number is expected to reach 50,000 as the 7-day mark passes and the chance of surviving in the rubble declines precipitously. At 150 hours, the soldiers and relief workers are are still digging survivors out of the rubble. People are not giving up hope.

One woman, who escaped being crushed because her husband flung himself on top of her at the last minute, managed to stay alive only by drinking her own blood. In order to get out from under the tons of concrete pressing down on her leg, she had to saw off her own leg with a rusty saw and a pair of scissors that the relief workers were able to pass through a hole in the rubble. Of course she had no anaesthesia. She told reporters that the only thing that kept her alive was the thought that she had a responsibility to raise her teenage daughter into a decent, contributing member of society. There are so many others like her.

A primary school teacher refused to run for safety when she saw that her little charges were paralyzed with fear inside the classroom. She made three rescue trips back into the shaking building before it collapsed on her. She was dug out with children under each arm, over her shoulder and one in each hand. Elsewhere, a mother saved her infant by making a bridge over it with her body. She died in that position, and three days later the child was saved.

Another man, in one of the many regions not readily accessible by rescue teams, tells of trying with his bare hands to dig his 16 year old son out of the rubble, hearing his voice become weaker and weaker over the ensuing 4 days before rescuers were able to get through, by hiking on foot over the mountains. His boy called out one last time, "Ba," he said, "I'm sorry, I'm can't hold on any longer," and perished before the rescuers were able to dig him out. The impossibility of transporting cranes and other heavy-lifting machinery into such areas has led to the loss of an enormous number of lives.

Although there has been a laudable and prompt reaction from the Chinese government, markedly unlike the reaction of the US government during Hurricane Katrina (American soldiers are said to have stood by with their guns and refused to help, while the Chinese soldiers came armed with only shovels and tireless determination to save lives), the earthquake has devastated a huge area of mountain towns, villages and cities, making the rescue effort tortuous and extremely difficult. Dams have cracked or broken, roads and bridges have collapsed or been obstructed by mudslides caused by rainstorms, and falling rock from the sides of mountains that broke loose during the quake, making it almost impossible to airlift or otherwise transport goods and personnel to the innumerable stricken areas. Flooding is another imminent danger that has caused evacuations in a number of areas. Meanwhile, severe aftershocks and new earthquakes--this morning a 7.2 quake hit a nearby area, killing 3 and injuring another 1000 people--continuing to settle the rubble and hinder the rescue effort.

The Chinese people, too, have been admirable and moving in their relief efforts, already donating almost as much money as the government--somewhere in the ballpark of $180 million US dollars. Han Chinese and Tibetans (who form a significant part of the population of Sichuan) have worked together to save each other's lives. From sports stars (Thanks, Yao Ming) to companies, from contemporary artists and arts people holding relief auctions to ordinary citizens sending whatever they can, donating blood and volunteering to go help on the ground, the people here, including the huge expat population, have rallied together to do whatever they can. The victims themselves have also been heroic in their own attempts in the relief effort--turning aside food and help when it is more urgently needed elsewhere, and there is a conspicuous lack of disorder that often comes in situations such as these--no looting, raping, robbery and pillaging, just an incredible upsurge of mutual aid and selfless support.

But there is so much more work to be done before the lives of the victims can come even close to going back to normal.

Today, at 2.28 pm, exactly 1 week after the earthquake struck, a national period of mourning began with the wailing of sirens and honking of horns on streets across the country for three minutes. Here in Beijing, the moment was solemn and sorrowful. I went to the curb, along with everyone else in the area, and stood listening to the cacophony, weeping for those who could not be saved.

32,000+ are dead so far. 50,000 expected.

About 1/3 of this number are school children. The government is investigating corruption in what are called "tofu construction projects" made by greedy contractor with substandard materials and in violation of safety regulations that may have resulted in the unprecedented number of schools and hospitals that collapsed completely, and has vowed to punish those responsible. It has also been much more open about the crisis than in previous situations, and welcomes assistance and support from all corners of the globe, for there is still so much left to do.

Over 200,000 people are injured, over 15,000 have sustained severe, life-threatening injury or have been maimed. There are huge numbers of orphans, and families whose children have died.

4.8 million people or more are homeless. Their livelihoods have been crushed into oblivioun along with their homes and places of work.

Millions of animals, from livestock to pets, have been rendered homeless or injured. Foreign Animal Protection Societies need to get involved to help these animals, and administer shots to the packs of homeless dogs that are now starving, hurt, disoriented and being shot for fear of rabies and other diseases.

MOST NEEDED:
MONEY, tents, blankets, first aid supplies and other medicines: especially: medicines to stop bleeding, antibiotics, pain-relief medicines, disinfectants, rain gear (rain coats, umbrellas, boots), baby formula, food stuffs, feminine supplies, clothing, toilet paper, other basic life supplies. People with expertise in PTSD and who can offer basic training in psychological counseling are needed as well.

The threat of disease spreading in places where huge numbers of people are crammed together is enormous. The Chinese government and people has been admirable in its relief efforts, but this is a disaster bigger than any country can manage by itself, especially after the huge, and devastating blizzard that put South China under ice in February, and the enormous output of investment in infrastructure development for the Olympics, this kind of damage isn't going to be fixed quickly or easily.


Possible places to channel relief aid
(their news is often quite out of date already, but they can help direct contributions to the right places):

This site has a plethora of good ways to donate and help out.
http://cnreviews.com/uncategorized/china_earthquake_relief_and_donation_guide_-_will_update_20080514.html

The RED CROSS CHINA site was hacked into by reprehensible vultures, so I won't offer a link to their site at present.

INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS
http://www.redcross.org/news/in/profiles/Intl_profile_ChinaEarthquake.asp?s_src=pre_aspLink

OTHER CHARITIES INVOLVED
http://www.charityinchina.org/2008/05/16/charities-to-help-victims-of-chinese-earthquake-in-sichuan/

http://www.globalgiving.com/china.html


http://www.mercycorps.org/chinaearthquake/?source=1062

http://www.china-crossroads.com/index.php/2008/05/12/sichuan-earthquake-how-to-help/

I have no idea which of these organizations is "best," but I think any kind of help at this point is of great value. Please act now and do or give whatever you can.

Also, see info on the Three Shadows Earthquake Relief Benefit Silent Auction (this info is only partial, as of May 13th, other artists including :
RongRong & inri
Adou (Sichuan native)
Xiong Wenyun (Sichuan native, donating a 1999 photograph from Wenchuan county, the earthquake epicenter)
Zhao Lian
Han Bing
Qiu
Huang Lei
Gao Bo (Sichuan native)
He Yunchang
He An
Mo Yi
Jiang Zhi
Yu Bogong
Alberto Garcia-Alix have also donated works to the benefit
Others are welcome to join!).

If you are in Beijing, or elsewhere, I urge you to make donations and come to the Benefit on the 25th.

http://www.threeshadows.cn/beta/en/news_Rescue.html
www.threeshadows.cn

Other info on the crisis and numerous links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Sichuan_earthquake

We have gone through our home and donated an array of things from clothes to cooking utensils, photography art works and signed books (for the benefit auction being held by Three Shadows Photographic Arts Centre in Beijing) and cash. None of this can possibly come even close to enough, so I hope I can rally some of you to lend a hand.

Times like these are reminders of both the incredible fragility and also indefatigable resilience and tenacity of human life. I am reminded of the last lines of a poem by Marge Pearcy, For Strong Women. She writes, "Until we are all strong together, a strong woman is strongly afraid." I think the sentiment holds for all of us human beings, and is a reminder of the need to overcome the petty, artificial boundaries of nation, gender, age, religion, and even, way of life, and stand together in the face of adversity.


Let's be strong together in supporting those people whose lives have been devastated and yet are standing bravely side by side, struggling to overcome unthinkable obstacles.


Wishing you peace, love and the good fortune to live your lives unobstructed by disaster, disease, war and other catastrophes--humanly created and naturally occurring alike. It's easy to forget just how good we've got it.

With respect,

Maya Kóvskaya


People in Dark Times

"Even in the darkest of times we have the right to
expect some illumination, and that such
illumination may well come less from
theories and concepts than from the
uncertain, flickering, and often weak
light that some men and women, in their
lives and their works, will kindle
under almost all circumstances and shed
over the time span that was given them
on earth."
--Hannah Arendt (From: Men in Dark Times)

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