My first week here

8 August 201

I am back in China now, it is really amazing here, and how magnificent the printbase is for artists! They are so meticulous here, they print editions for artists and we residents are just an extra - there are no Europeans here although on Wed two German artists from Berlin and Hanover left, who had been here for 6 weeks. Now we are expecting an Australian next week and an American the week after. I feel the burden of producing something worthy here! I have spent the last few days settling in and start producing some work to put on screens and litho today and over the weekend. we have 24 hour access but I leave around 9pm. Three meals a day, all hot, all healthy (no dairy or sweets, sometimes a sweet bread dumpllng at breakfast, but very easy not to have to shop or cook or clean up after.

The print workshop

The print base is a bit like a tardis in some ways… it just seems to have landed in this very traditional old village and it is only when you look more closely that you realise that the houses have been made into galleries. It is incongruous that such a factory style building should have just landed in the centre here.

Saturday, 11 August 2012

Well, Friday was another hot day here. It is 90° and the only time it is a little cooler is around 7am. By 8.30 it is back up in the 90s. It is also very humid. It rained last night and a couple of weeks ago rained solidly all week. We are provided with big umbrellas to shade from the sun, and shelter from the rain! It is unusual to see people without them.

Yesterday there were at least 4 police cars and vans outside the printmaking base, as well as one at the gated entrance to the village and another couple further along the inside road. (This is the only traffic we get). The reason was a tour bus, or maybe the smaller but much more luxurious mini bus. When I asked why so many police, (when there are always at least 3 security officers within sight at any one time) I was told that very important people from the government often visit, then they come with police. It is a strange concept, as it is such a quiet peaceful village and there are no crowds and cctv everywhere. Understandably I hesitated to take photos!