Artist Residency: Fuzhou, Fujian, China
Situated in an empty Qing dynasty building, surrounded by ex-consulate buildings from the treaty port era; residents were invited to eat some home-baked English-style cakes; such as Victoria sandwich, in exchange for their thoughts.
I wanted to provide cake associated with this period as a way of re-framing it in a contemporary context, and also simply as a way of sharing. Each slice of cake was served on a plate containing two questions (both in English and Mandarin). The first question asked how long they had lived in Fuzhou, the second was one of ten random questions concerned by opinions, feelings or stories about the city. Residents answered by writing onto a photograph of their choice. The photographs were taken during the residency and contained subjects of the urban fabric. I was influenced by a 'dazibao' exhibition which I had seen in both the city and Shanghai museum; these poster/painted characters on walls, popularised during the revolutionary periods were note worthy for the fact that they were not easily understood by an illiterate public. But their aesthetic value was appreciated, and the notion of their intent - which was to finger point at individuals - carried its own weight of understanding. Although this was a less antagonistic incarnation and placed on photos as oposed to the wall, to avoid marking the building, it was primarily a way for me to try and overcome any language barriers, or failing this, to generate an aesthetic language itself. In addition a secret quantitative test was made; to see how many people would finish the whole slice (the proof is in the pudding!). The photos were later framed and displayed outside on pickets.
Situated in an empty Qing dynasty building, surrounded by ex-consulate buildings from the treaty port era; residents were invited to eat some home-baked English-style cakes; such as Victoria sandwich, in exchange for their thoughts.
I wanted to provide cake associated with this period as a way of re-framing it in a contemporary context, and also simply as a way of sharing. Each slice of cake was served on a plate containing two questions (both in English and Mandarin). The first question asked how long they had lived in Fuzhou, the second was one of ten random questions concerned by opinions, feelings or stories about the city. Residents answered by writing onto a photograph of their choice. The photographs were taken during the residency and contained subjects of the urban fabric. I was influenced by a 'dazibao' exhibition which I had seen in both the city and Shanghai museum; these poster/painted characters on walls, popularised during the revolutionary periods were note worthy for the fact that they were not easily understood by an illiterate public. But their aesthetic value was appreciated, and the notion of their intent - which was to finger point at individuals - carried its own weight of understanding. Although this was a less antagonistic incarnation and placed on photos as oposed to the wall, to avoid marking the building, it was primarily a way for me to try and overcome any language barriers, or failing this, to generate an aesthetic language itself. In addition a secret quantitative test was made; to see how many people would finish the whole slice (the proof is in the pudding!). The photos were later framed and displayed outside on pickets.
above: exhibtion display taken at night
below: record of the activity 
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