I, CULTURE Crafts in Beijing, photo: Studio PANATO
The Chinese edition of the I, CULTURE Contemporary Crafts project crowned the finale of the 798 Art Festival in Beijing. The artists Feng Lin and Deng Dafei conducted two exciting phases of the project, which culminated in the creation of the I, CULTURE quilt and a food fest
The participants gathered at the 798 Art Zone Creativity Square, a former weapon factory which now functions as one the Chinese capital's most hip artistic venues. This privately owned space hosts numerous galleries and showcases some of the world's most prominent artists. An exhibition by Ai Weiwei was running alongside the I, CULTURE Craft Workshops.
The flagship project of the Polish Presidency of the EU Conucil was modified for the Asian installment in Beijing. The project's spritus movens, Monika Jakubiak asked two Chinese artists to interpret the I, CULTURE theme and propose a local formula of the project that would best fit the local context.
Over August and September, Feng Lin exchanged pieces of cloth with volunteer participants. Feng Lin used the pieces of cloth to sew up the Chinese square-shaped piece of the I, CULTURE quilt, making up the lower parts of the letters "U" and "R" in the "I, CULTURE" theme. The volunteers patched over the holes in their garments with pieces of black fabric they received from Feng Lin. The entire process was documented in photographs and film.
I, CULTURE in China also dabbled in a presentation of culinary art in a performance piece conducted by Deng Dafei. The artist invited 100 people to sit compose the "I, CULTURE" logo out of items of food. A master chef was also on hand to demonstrate his skills and prepare exquisite entrees in front of the participants.
The I, CULTURE Contemporary Craft project aims to create an awareness of each person's relationship and active engagement in culture, especially those who do not work in any artistic profession. The I, CULTURE Contemporary Craft Workshop series, which are also supervised by Monika Jakubiak, make up an international sewing project. Over the 6-month term of the Polish Presidency, participants from the 12 different cities (Berlin, Brussels, Kiev, Copehnhagen, London, Madrid, Minsk, Moscow, Paris, Beijing, Tokyo and Warsaw) create each individual square of this puzzle.
The result of this extensive project will be an eclectic arrangement of the 12 squares, spelling out the I, CULTURE logo, at the end of the Presidency term.
I, CULTURE Crafts in Beijing video:
Date: 16th of October, 2011
Venue: 798 Art Zone, 2 Jiuxianqiao, Chaoyang, Beijing
Organised by: Adam Mickiewicz Institute in partnership with the Polish Embassy in Beijing
Project cofinanced by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland.
I, CULTURE is a Flagship Project of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council. For more information, see: I, CULTURE.
Source: Adam Mickiewicz Institute