Advertisement
Published: August 24th 2009
Edit Blog Post
two traceys
roof top
M on the Bund I nipped to Shanghai on Thursday and met Tracey straight off the train. Firstly, I wanted to put my 120 roll film in at snaps on Huai Hai Lu but it wasn’t open so we went to H&M and tried loads of clothes on - some whilst standing on the shop floor.
We ran back to snaps in the biggest thunder storm I’ve witnessed yet in China and we’ve had some ‘belters’. Fish could swim in the street this time all the way from Huai Hai Lu to the other side of Shanghai.
Drenched we went home to Ted’s.
Ted lives on the 26th floor in a very tall building in Shanghai. His apartment is glorious. Floor to ceiling book shelves lined with books all in topical order. Collections of wooden temple gods and ceramic Chinese leaders line the top of the shelf and they all face Japanese wood block prints. Two huge sofas welcomed me where I sat and looked at one of my favourite books on the walled city in Kowloon. A huge grin crept across my face at the warm welcome, the relaxed atmosphere and the treasure of things to look at which reminded me
that people do have lovely homes and not transient life styles- as mine has become.
I wanted to buy dinner for Ted and Tracey because I was staying over but Ted took us all out to 'M on the Bund' - five of us. Quite frankly, I had no idea where we were going but when I saw the restaurant, I thought I’d won a competition that I had no idea that I’d entered.
I was the child - so excited in a 50 kwai qi pao over trousers shuffling from one seat to another in a very elegant setting trying to get the best view out of the window.
You can look it up but I’ll tell you, it’s the most glorious place I have ever eaten in - partly because of the amazing location overlooking the Bund and across the river to the Pearl Tower, partly because of the table cloths and cutlery with little curly M’s on, the service and of course the best Fine Dining in Asia and then, last but certainly not least, great company. I couldn’t hold back my grin, the whole event was too exciting running from one area on
the roof to another, drinking from cranberry coloured glasses and eating posh on very large plates.
I'd like to say A very big thank you to Ted and Tracey for their kindness and generosity and for just allowing me to be myself - so very child like and excited.
Friday, T and I went to the Beaugeste on Taikang Lu - we found that it was closed to the public on weekdays but they opened it so we could see the work. Another exciting moment, but for very different reasons. The photographic exhibition of Wang Gang's work is of portraits of the Yi and the Tibetan people taken in natural light and it is very moving. The two prints immediately opposite to the entrance were absolutely riveting - compositionally stunning but the one to the right of them was my favourite.
A Yi woman and her child - it was spellbinding - her eyes telling a story that I read and the curator later explained to us bringing a tear to my eye. For me, looking into her eyes was as intense as if she was in front of me opening her suffering out like mist into
the air so that it surrounded us and I could feel and think of nothing else. This is rich work about transient human existence.
Wang Gang, says of his work, ‘I would never think of philosophy while photographing but the thoughts were exposed on the negative without concealment. When I am viewing the subject through the lens, it seems that I am confessing to my true self. At such moments, the subject in my eyes becomes the priest in the stall, listening sincerely, confessing me and setting me free. Moreover, he promises to keep all my
secrets.
Therewith, I have become fond of seeking myself in the photographed subjects. I can smell my own scent from their body heat. As I press the shutter, both of us we exchange all the happiness and sorrows of the world.’
If you are passing through Shanghai - go see the work - it’s beautiful and articulate.
Medium format - 1955 rollei.
After Taikang, I popped in to see Martin at Art Labor. He’s as charismatic as ever - getting ready for an opening tonight but I couldn’t stay because I had an appointment about a possible job
next year. So, a very exciting and moving 2 days full of good company, cheer and laughter and of course - good food.
www.m-onthebund.com
www.beaugeste-gallery.com
Advertisement
Tot: 0.086s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 12; qc: 28; dbt: 0.025s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb