For the Love of Art

A New Thing

Most of the artists here are pursuing a new image or a new sound. Li Ke, an experimental interactive performance artist, has an alter-ego: “Rabbit.” Dressed in a white bunny suit, she interacts with a person chosen at random from the audience, using objects in her immediate environment to connect with the emotions which that person harbors internally. “I am empty,” she says, her smile just visible underneath the rabbit head. “I am a mirror.” She manages to evoke the most surprising reactions. Participants have described the Rabbit experience as extremely moving, often reducing them to tears as they feel an intense catharsis.

Calmness and Passion, an exhibition of eight painters, held at Shangyuan in April 2016.

During the opening ceremony the resident musicians, playing traditional Chinese instruments mixed with classical Western music, proceed to perform a musical bullfight, two violinists going head to head in mock battle, dancing their way across the floor as they create the most wonderful improvisation. The four musicians are multi-instrumentalists, and can perform just as beautifully on the erhu and pipa as they can on violin and cello. They are looking for a new sound – a fusion of cultures – and are tireless in their pursuit of it. Everyone living here is infused with immense creative energy.

After their performance, Rabbit runs riot. With the help of one of the visitors she proceeds to tie ribbons onto an installation, binds people with ropes, and tinkers with the band’s musical instruments until restrained and dragged off by a group of giggling residents. The scene is met with applause and laughter from the audience. Everyone is made to feel part of whatever “new thing” is happening here.