SF JOURNAL » Sun Xiaoxi

Traces: Liu Xiaodong opened

Sun Xiaoxi — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:51:59 +0000

Presented by Shao Foundation, Traces: Liu Xiaodong was opened successfully in Beijing Angle Modern Art at 9pm, Sep 18, 2009. Despite the traffic control during the rehearsal of the National Day ceremony, the opening was crowded with guests.

From left to right: Wu Hong, curator of the exhibition and professor of the Art Institute of Chicago, Thomas Shao, head of Modern Media Group, Liu Xiaodong, painter, Ou Ning, curator of the exhibition and director of Shao Foundation.

Cheers!

From left to right: Ou Ning, Tan Ping, vice president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Liu Xiaodong

From left to right, Liu Heung Shing, editorial director of Modern Media Group, Thomas Shao, Ou Ning

Ms. Karen Smith

Wang Di, a good friend of Liu Xiaodong. He is one of the first rock players in mainland China and used to sing the theme song for famous Chinese film Wan Zhu.

Zhang Xianmin, professor of the Literature Department of Beijing Film Academy, and Ou Ning

Chen Jiaying, Beijing District Manager of Modern Media Group

All photographs by Sun Xiaoxi

Exhibition “Traces: Liu Xiaodong” in preparations

Sun Xiaoxi — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:25:51 +0000

Presented by Shao Foundation, Traces: Liu Xiaodong is now under preparations. The exhibition design appears simple yet the details reveal its complication.

All photographs by Sun Xiaoxi

Photo log: La Commune (Paris, 1871) China premiere

Sun Xiaoxi — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:24:29 +0000

Here are some photos from La Commune (Paris, 1871)’s mainland China premiere on March 26 at the Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art, followed by a discussion about the film with guest speakers Dick Chu and Deng Siu Wah from Hong Kong, Andrew Yu from Beijing, and Tang Shui’en from Wuhan. We’d like to express our gratitude to UCCA, the event’s co-organiser for all their support.

Our posters at the front entrance of UCCA auditorium.

The reception desk with posters, leaflets and Chutzpah! — the first issue of Shao Foundation’s magazine.

Audiences signing in.

The main screen of UCCA’s auditorium, featuring the poster of La Commune.

Monica Chen of the Education & Public programmes at UCCA giving brief introduction of the event.

Lawrence Li, curator at Shao Foundation spoke about the film before the screening.

About half of all audiences stayed for the whole 345 minutes.

The Chinese subtitle is made by the staff of Hong Kong Social Movement Film Festival.

Discussion after screening: (from the left) Tang Shui’en, Dick Chu, Deng Siu Wah, Andrew Yu, Ou Ning.

Ou Ning, director of Shao Foundation as the moderator of the discussion.

Hong Kong writer Deng Siu Wah speaking.

Andrew Yu, initiator of the charity project 1KG.org.

Hong Kong jounalist and social activist Dick Chu speaking.

Tang Shui’en from Wuhan has been studying youth autonomy and independent media.

Audience asking questions.

(All photos by Sun Xiaoxi.)

* This text was originally written by Sun Xiaoxi in Chinese and was translated by Xu Yijing.

Panel discussion: does China have an image problem?

Sun Xiaoxi — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 06:11:39 +0000

This afternoon, a panel discussion on the topic ‘Does China have an image problem?’ took place in Beijing Angle Modern Art Gallery (BAMA). As an emerging power, China feels it has an image problem which does not commensurate with its rising status in the world. The incidents such as Olympic Torch Relay, Violence in Lhasa. Successful 2008 Olympic reports were mixed with China’s lack of openness by not approving any peaceful demonstration. These incidents plus the powerful Sichuan earthquake have effected a series of discussion and introspection by the domestic intellectual and political class. These are now press reports (SCMP, People’s Daily) which claimed that the Central Government may soon approve a budget as much as 45 billon RMB (6.6 billon U.S.) to boost its state-owned media outlets: CCTV, Xinhua News Agency and People’s Daily. The new funding may be used to launch a CNN-like Chinese television news channel, expanding existing Xinhua News Agency overseas bureaus, and publishing Global Times in English. The panel discussion was moderated by Liu Heung Shing, who is editorial director of Modern Weekly. Several authors of great reputation such as James Fallows, Jasper Becker and Glenn Mott were invited as international panelists. Some Chinese artists and scholars e.g. Chen Danqing, Shi Yinhong, Li Kun, participated the discussion of image problem with which China is confronted in the course of rising period.

Liu Heung Shing, editorial director of Modern Weekly and Australian scholar Geremie Barme

Liu Heung Shing

British media veteran Jasper Becker

Author and film critic Zhou Liming

James Fallows, author of Reports from China

Thomas Shao, chief director of Modern Media Group

Pallavi Aiyar, author of Smoke and Mirrors: an Experience of China

Artist, author Chen Danqing

Xu Zhiyuan, chief editor of Life Magazine

Ou Ning, director of Shao Foundation

James Fallows

Li Yifei, managing director of GLG China, former manager director of MTV Networks Greater China

American poet Glenn Mott, Fullbright Fellow at Tsinghua University

Professor Li Kun, department director of the School of Journalism & Communication, Pekin University

Chen Danqing speaks

Professor Shi Yinhong, director of the Centre for American Studies, Renmin University of China

Audience

All photos by Sun Xiaoxi

Photo log: 24 City preview screening and CROSSTALK Beijing #2

Sun Xiaoxi — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:36:49 +0000

Last Saturday, Shao Foundation arranged an one-time preview screening of Jia Zhangke’s upcoming feature 24 City at Megabox cinema, The Village, Sanlitun, followed by CROSSTALK Beijing #2, a panel discussion titled ‘Reflection of Times: From Industrialisation to Urbanisation’ at Beijing Angle Modern Art. Topics such as industrialisation, urbanisation, the definition of ‘real’ in a documentary were discussed. Director Jia Zhangke, poet and screenwriter Zhai Yongming, film historian Lin Xüdong and film critic Wang Hong were among the guest speakers of this special event moderated by SF director Ou Ning.

Preview screening tickets being collected at the entrance.

Because the seats were limited, we could only give out 102 tickets based on first-come, first-served principle.

Our staff handing out tickets.

Waiting for the movie to start.

Audiences entering the theatre at 1:20pm.

Hall 7 of Megabox cinema.

The movie started.

Wang Hong (left) and Jia Zhangke in Beijing Angle Modern Art.

Jia Zhangke and Lin Xüdong (right).

Wang Xing, founder and CEO of the micro-blogging start-up Fanfou.com and the popular SNS site Hainei.com. Fanfou is a strategic partner of Shao Foundation.

We had a full house even before the discussion began! Some of the late arrivals could only stand on the sides. We will try to make it better next time.

Guest speakers (from the left): Ou Ning, Lin Xüdong, Wang Hong, Jia Zhangke and Zhai Yongming.

Zhai Yongming speaking.

Zhai published her first poem anthology in 1986. She is the co-writer of 24 City’s screenplay.

Jia Zhangke answering question.

Ou Ning moderating the discussion.

Audience taking notes.

Shao Foundation intern Pan He asking question.

Audience asking questions.

Jia Zhangke responding to the audience.

Wang Hong speaking.

Lin Xüdong answering Ou Ning’s question.

Our micro-blogging system powered by Fanfou.com. SF has been working with Fanfou since the first installment of CROSSTALK Beijing. The audience can ask questions and make comments in real-time via cellphone or laptop.

Audience can also discuss amongst themselves on the Fanfou screen.

‘May I have your autograph please?’.

The New Yorker’s Beijing bureau chief Evan Osnos talked to Jia Zhangke after the discussion.

Jiang Zhuo (left) from Ruzuo.com, a start-up through which members can organise movie screening by and for themselves. This allows them opportunity to watch movies which are not often available in the mainstream cinemas in China.

Lin Xüdong talking to audiences.

Business cards left by journalists.

(All photos by Sun Xiaoxi.)

* This text was originally written by Sun Xiaoxi in Chinese and was translated by Xu Yijing.

Jia Zhangke: 24 City exhibition kicked off with a star-lit opening party

Sun Xiaoxi — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:32:59 +0000

At 2:00pm, Feb 23, Jia Zhangke: 24 City exhibition held its opening in Beijing Angle Modern Art. The major cast of the film 24 City, including director Jia Zhangke, lead actress Zhao Tao and playwright Zhai Yongming attended the opening with poet Ouyang Jianghe, director Li Hongqi and many other guests. This is the first exhibition of Jia Zhangke and the second exhibition presented by Shao Foundation.

On Feb 28 afternoon, Jia Zhangke will come back to Beijing Modern Angle Art to join the second installment of Shao Foundaiton’s serial talk events — CROSSTALK Beijing.

The entrance of Beijing Angle Modern Art

Part of the exhibits

Roaming Glimpse—Carved Memory by Jia Zhangke and Yu Lik-Wai

The exhibition site

Director Jia Zhangke

Zhao Tao, one of the three lead actresses of 24 City

Media veteran Li Mengxia (middle)

Designer Zara Arshad

Ou Ning, director of Shao Foundation, with Susanna Tsai, general manager (Beijing) of Modern Media Group

Jia Zhangke delivers opening speech

Jia Zhangke with Ou Ning

Ou Ning with Li Hongqi, poet, writer and film director

Singer Tan Jing

Susanna Tsai with Lawrence Li, curator of Shao Foundation

Dancer and actress Wang Yabin

Zhao Tao

Artist Wang Jianwei

Ou Ning with poet Ouyang Jianghe

Zhai Yongming, poet and playwright of 24 City (left) with Ouyang Jianghe (right)

Famous lyricist Liang Heping (right)

From left to right, Jia Zhangke, Eva Lam (project manager of X stream) and Susanna Tsai

All photos by Sun Xiaoxi
* The text is originally written by Sun Xiaoxi in Chinese and translated by April Zhang

Jia Zhangke: 24 City exhibition under preparation

Sun Xiaoxi — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:42:13 +0000

Several days ago, hundreds of the objects from the old Chengdu factory featured in Jia Zhangke’s 24 City arrived at Shao Foundation’s Beijing office. With their history spanning over the past 30 years, these objects came in large variety: working pass, tea cup, award, diary, mix tape of Teresa Deng (Taiwanese pop singer who gained great popularity in the Greater China area since the 1980s), etc. They are the silent story-tellers conveying the ups and downs of a large state-owned enterprise and the daily life of the individuals who used to belong and work there. We’ve spent the past few days on selecting and categorising these objects, trying to figure out an intriguing way of exhibition setting and lighting. As of today, a few exhibits are put in place, and our exhibition designer Xu Yijing is busy experimenting with various ways of placing different media in the venue.

(The text is originally written by Sun Xiaoxi in Chinese and translated by April Zhang. All photos by Sun Xiaoxi.)

CROSSTALK Beijing #1 preparation started

Sun Xiaoxi — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:22:57 +0000

On Dec 6 (this Saturday), Shao Foundation will present the first event of CROSSTALK Beijing, our serial conversation programme. The first speaker will be Jay Brown from Lijiang Studio. Hailing from the United States, Brown has been working as the director of the Studio in Yunnan province for three years. He’s going to share with us some of their unusual experiments at the farming community during the talk. For the past few days we’ve been working hard to ensure that everything is in place for this launching event. Yesterday, we assembled 40 chairs and had the PA system installed.

Let’s get started!

The 450W JBL JRX115.

The audio professionals.

Zhang Ning, our web designer.

Our visual designer Sun Xiaoxi put together the words ‘CROSSTALK Beijing’ with the little spanner tools coming with the chairs.

Ou Xin, the videographer of Shao Foundation.

(The post was written by Sun Xiaoxi originally in Chinese and was translated by April Zhang. All photos by Sun Xiaoxi.)

Ou Ning visited Liu Xiaodong’s studio

Sun Xiaoxi — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:25:00 +0000

Nov 27, Ou Ning visited Liu Xiaosong’s studio at 798 Art District and talked with him about holding a solo exhibition of him in the future.

Ou Ning (left) and Liu Xiaodong (right).

A painting about the garage piles in Naples, Italy by Liu Xiaodong.

Liu Xiaodong travels frequently to get new inspirations, with his footprint even on desert where he took these photos as material.

Design Group Xiaomage and Chengzi joined the discussion.

*The post was originally written by Sun Xiaoxi in Chinese and was translated by April Zhang.

Huang Rui’s solo exhibition: Chinese History in Animal Time

Sun Xiaoxi — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:24:33 +0000

From Oct 18 to Nov 16, 2008, Shao Foundation launched its opening with Huang Rui’s solo exhibition Chinese History In Animal Time in BAMA Gallery in Beijing. Huang Rui co-founded the literature magazine Today with poets like Bei Dao and Mang Ke in 1970s. He then organised the first and second Star Exhibition in 1979 and 1980 respectively. In 1984, he moved to Japan. In 2002, he initiated the later-renowned 798 Art District.

Exhibition site in progress.

The bricks used in Huang Rui’s works fill up dozens of large boxes. He collected these bricks from destruction sites in old Beijing area.

Curator Bérénice Angremy.

Huang Rui with his friend fromZdeněk Sklenář Gallery of Czech Republic.

Artist Wang Qingsong

Huang Rui talked about his works with friends.

*This post was originally written in Chinese by our Sun Xiaoxi and was edited and translated by April Zhang.