The Creators Project - Beijing - Attack of the Birds and the open bar

This weekend was my second The Creators Project event in 

Beijing at the UCCA in the 798 Art District.

“OctoCloud” by SuperUber

As with anything music related, I arrived super early and was 

lucky to get watch the screening of SHUT UP AND PLAY THE 

HITS, LCD SOUNDSYSTEM film of their farewell show in NYC. 

Shut Up and Play the Hits - LCD Soundsystem

I had gone to the show in NYC and was delighted to relive 

that night and see glimpses of faces of my lovely New York 

friends singing along in the crowd.

After the screening, I went to explore the art installations.

I love the art at The Creators Project event! They are 

both thought provoking and whimsical. Fun....

Check it out.... Like Icarus I want to fly to the sun with my 

might wings.

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk

This might be my most favorite installation ever at The 

Creators Project. In Chris Milk’s Treachery of Sanctuary, 

each panel of his avine themed triptych projects and 

absorbs the viewer into the scenario.

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk

In one instance, you are the creator as your body breaks 

into a million birds taking flight. I felt happy as my 

gravity-bound body took to the sky, freed.

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk

I stepped in front of the next panel and I was instantly 

attacked by birds who pecked at me until I was nothing but a 

stump. I won't lie I felt a little anxious because the scene 

from the great Hitchcock film,"The Birds," scared me silly 

when I was a child.

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk

The last panel transformed me from fearful to feeling 

powerful. When I lifted my arms, huge wings emerged in 

swooping sound.  I felt as if I had great armor and was 

omnipotent. Pretty wicked stuff!

The next piece was called "OctoCloud' by SuperUber.  

“OctoCloud” by SuperUber

Viewers could use their mobile phones to “fling” virtual balls 

onto the computer graphic sculpture. If the ball hit the 

target, an animation would appear on the surface.

In the far room, fashion designer Vega Zaishi Wang's

Alpha Lyrae piece made feel like I was at Fashion Week on a 

spaceship to another galaxy.

Vega Zaishi Wang's Special Collection "Alpha Lryae"

 Her special collection was inspired by astrological 

constellations. 

Vega Zaishi Wang's Special Collection "Alpha Lryae"

As her frozen model or aliens stood on the 

runway,the ambient music composed by Carsick Cars front 

man Zhang Shouwang  pulsed while Wang’s garments 

interpreted symbols of the universe as the images from the 

projection mapping by UFO flashed upon them like the 

paparazzi's cameras.

The last room I entered was Yang Yongliang’s beautiful video 

installation The Day of Perpetual Night.

The Day of Perpetual Night” by Yang Yongliang

The Day of Perpetual Night” by Yang Yongliang

 The piece reminiscent of classical Chinese art was 

redesigned to reflect the modern Chinese experience where 

nature is no longer viewed as source of inspiration but 

instead the city as a landscape is the now the symbol of

innovation and beauty. 

It actually reminded me of Hong Kong at night....

As always, I found some great light and did my own creation 

project. I love both light and lines. I think I was taking 

photos of the grid's reflection on my face for 30 minutes. 

Lost in art and the light....

Amy Holland Reflected and refracted

Amy Holland Reflected and refracted

After my exploring and a little art project of my own, I 

found my way into VIP and enjoyed the open bar. 

I bumped into some friends and we tipsily danced along to 

to the bands Real Estate, The Chromatics, Beijing's bands

FM3 & CNdY, and Shanghai rockers Duck Fight Goose. 

I jumped out somewhere in the evening for a pizza from the

cafe across the street to carb load for the later DANCE 

PARTY BJ DJed by Former LCD SOUNDSYSTEM frontman 

James Murphy.....

And boy, did I dance.....

More photos of the evening:

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk - WInged Warrior

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk 

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk

“The Treachery of Sanctuary” by Chris Milk

The Day of Perpetual Night” by Yang Yongliang

The Day of Perpetual Night” by Yang Yongliang

Vega Zaishi Wang's Special Collection "Alpha Lryae"

Vega Zaishi Wang's Special Collection "Alpha Lryae"

Vega Zaishi Wang's Special Collection "Alpha Lryae"

Vega Zaishi Wang's Special Collection "Alpha Lryae"

Vega Zaishi Wang's Special Collection "Alpha Lryae"

Vega Zaishi Wang's Special Collection "Alpha Lryae"

Raise the Red Lantern - Lianhua Mt Park's Tea house and bamboo forest

Lian Hua tea house

In my little oasis in Shenzhen, there is a small bamboo forest surrounding a traditional tea house. During the day, if one's heart is open, the winds will whisper of the magic that unveils itself when the sun has slid behind the snow mountains of the Himalayas in the West. 

As the neon lights of the city buildings ignite, the red lanterns hidden like fireflies in midsummer grass blink on. The warm South China sea breeze sways them back and forth spreading a warm red glow in the tangle of the forest.

It is the most magical place to me. Here, I dream of Red Dragons, Jade Rabbits and other creatures of yore who would appear along the lantern lit lanes of the Middle Kingdom's ancient realm. 

Some say that Chinese
lanterns were invented
on the night before the
Chinese New Year for the
Buddhist monks to use
instead of fire torches to
light their way in search for the divine figure of the Buddha and his followers. Other believe that the lanterns have special properties to ward of evil spirits and show good luck to your door.

Lanterns were more than a means to light the way; they also illuminated those of the Noble class and Emperor. The size and the materials of the lamp acted as beacon of status, advertising to all that passed by the wealth of the family. Lamps of wealthy were mostly made of silk and velvet and hung from the higher floors.  

Over time, lanterns would decorate most houses - poor or wealthy- in China. People would use the lanterns to announces important events that the families were going through.

• Red lantern:  Red is a symbol of happiness, life and luck. When it was placed outside the house, it meant a marriage or birth was taking place within the family.
• Blue lantern: Blue symbolizes sickness or poor health in China. If hanging, it would mean that a family member's health was degenerating.
• White lantern: White in China represents death. When two white lanterns are placed on top of doorway with a white sash across the door, the family was in mourning.

To me, the lanterns symbolize the mystical world of the Middle Kingdom that lies beyond the Western mind.

Oh nooooo......

Now, I have to worry about the hiking trails, too....  

If this was another country, I would say this was a English mistake but cars in China are such a real menace. I wouldn't be surprised to see someone trying to take on the hiking path.

Shenzhen Escapes

I have found hiking is one of the few things you can do easily in Shenzhen........  

Dotted among the clusters of ever growing taller high rises are a number of city parks where stone trails lead you away from the city's dizzy urbanization to the lush, primordial tropical landscape and the birds' songs tune out the horns and hammers of modern China.

My favorite place to take a quick little hike is Lianhua Mountain Park, located near the New City Hall and the Children'sPalace. 

Lianhua Mountain Park is beautiful swatch of green located in the center of Shenzhen with a dozen trails that criss-cross the small cluster of low lying mountains. 

In the center of the park, there is a bronze statue of the late ruler Deng Xiaoping, atop the 106-meter high hill.  To get there, you must take the main trail of the Lianhua Mountain Park, which in some parts have been cut into a cliff and connected by a suspended bridge.

Sunsets are not seen often in polluted China but watching the neon lights appear on the buildings is just a spectacular in a sort of gaudy way.

If you are not up for an energetic walk, you can languish on the rolling lawns, under the shady greens, or watch young and old fly kites in the kite square. There is also a nice lake on the adjacent ground for fishing and boating. 

When darkness comes, I like to get lost in the bamboo forest. Red lanterns line the way making you feel like your path has taken you into a magical world of an old Chinese myth.