This is the non-profit photography centre I work at. It’s called Three Shadows. The centre is the first art space dedicated to photography and video art in China. I translate, talk to international media and arts orgs, think of crazy, innovative exhibitions, and learn photography with some of the coolest young people in China.
A few pictures of Thanksgiving in Beijing December 4, 2006
Chinese kitchens are rarely bigger than that pictured below. With only a two woks, a microwave, and no oven, cooking Thanksgiving dinner can get pretty hairy. Nevertheless, Lynn and I masterminded a meal that included Peking duck/KFC fried chicken as turkey substitute, mashed potatoes, assorted veggies, roasted sweet potatoes, and sticky rice stuffing. I must […]
Hangzhou 杭州 November 5, 2006
During the National Holidays, I traveled to Shanghai and Hangzhou. I should have known that traveling during the National Holidays is nuts — imagine a holiday that has no tradition of barbeques, or family get-togethers, or presents; all people do on this week-long vacation is travel. Nearly 1.3 billion people simultaneously deciding to uproot themselves […]
YeSanPo 野三坡 October 11, 2006
My friend Clifford recently pointed out the nature of the word ‘play’ in China. Play, or 玩 (say wan), is ubiquitous. Little kids running around after school — they’re going out to 玩. Old people playing cards or mah jiang — they like to 玩. Young people drinking themselves silly and dancing — oh they’re […]
Living Conditions. September 22, 2006
I’ve finally settled into life in Beijing…after fully re-discovering Chinese bureaucracy’s penchant for long lines, official red stamps, and flimsy multiple receipts for everything from residence permits to pencils. I’m perpetually surprised that through the frenetic inefficiency of it all, things still get done. Luckily, my room has been a safe retreat. In fact, I’m […]