Yue Mingjun 2000

why do they run to Yunnan?
an interview with Neeman

2000/04 Dali, Yunnan,China -japanese language is here-

Today it's hard to talk about the contemporary art of the world without the artists and movements of the Chinese mainland. While the Western and Japanese art journals keep watching the large cities around the capital Beijing, many artists are in the process of moving to Yunnan near the border to Burma/Laos. It is said that there's another life style that cannot be realized in Beijing, New York and Paris. We interviewed Tibetan organizer Neeman who created a new life sphere for artists, to know the reason why those artists in the mainland love Yunnan.

report and design
OKADA, Tomohiro info@coolstates.com

translation Japanese > english
Mayumi Kaneko (Shift Production)

a thousand years city south beyond the clouds from the world

The Han Chinese likened Yunnan to the place beyond the clouds. Take an airplane from Bangkok for about one hour to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, the nearest large city to Southeast Asia. Then make a connection with a domestic line for thirty minutes to Dali. Dali used to be the capital of a different nation from Han-China world until hundreds of years ago. Where is near a huge lake that used to be called an ocean by the nations of the old kingdom and a perpetually snow covered mountain stretching to the faraway Himalayas. Yunnan is home to 30 different minority races, while the People Republic of China territory is living 50 races. They live their everyday lives inside of the ancient castles.

why have chinese artistes run to yunnan?

After a one hour trip by bus from the airport in which people with differing clothes joined me, I finally arrived at the castle town. The ancient castle Dali. The long-established stone-built houses line the street. Different races such as the White tribe fill the street. The landscape with snow mountains behind is called the Katmandu of China by backpackers and has fascinated many travelers since it was opened to foreigners 15 years ago. Then cafes, lounges and guesthouses were opened by the long-term guests and the local youth and galleries sprung up filled with artists from all parts of China.

Then this year an epoch-making art project and workshop entitled "...BETWEEN..." was held in this city.

Why do those artists go to Yunnan in the mountains from Peking, Shanghai, Paris and New York?

We spoke to Neeman who is an organizer. He provides work spaces for artists and acts as a local host at this art project to know the reason.

Neeman

Tribal and ambient girl, came from Hong Kong who took an Easter vacation, now youths in greater China lone Tibet and Yunnan as tribal adventure destinations.

Neeman' Arteries

CS:
Why are the Chinese young contemporary artists moving to Dali?

Neeman:
In recent years, a growing number of artists are getting tired of staying in Beijing, Shanghai, New York or Paris after being invited by galleries.

In Beijing, you'll be making good if you're put in the art world, otherwise you should go into too much performance or activism. And in Shanghai, you need to think of more commercial success. Anyway, these cities are expensive places to live in and it's hard to live your life, to say nothing of doing your expression, without doing something impressive or belonging to some company or organization.

Going abroad to a place like New York or Paris sounds gorgeous and profitable. Some people are making money with their work, but on the other hand, there are some people who wear out their mind and body to maintain the relationship with galleries or their positions as artists.

Then they naturally turn their eyes toward Dali where the weather is fine, everything is inexpensive and easy to live with different cultures far from the center. It's an inspiring space to devote themselves to their creation as artists.

About 15 years ago, this area became open to foreigners and many travelers came to visit here. As a result, many people have experienced the expression by the minority race's culture and art we have (Neeman is the Tibetan and his wife Xiao Ming is of the White tribe, both of them are contemporary artists), and now we are being able to develop our own culture by ourselves.
Then we opened a gallery in this city about 10 years ago and it allowed independent artists to work actively.
On the other hand, Chinese can make trips as they want in recent years, artists who left the center to look for an appropriate space to express themselves are visiting this city.

CS:
I remember that there was a movement that artists left Beijing for Tibet or Xinjiang (East Turkestan) in large numbers about 10 years ago...

Neeman:
It was a kind of meaningless since the young who felt a deprivation in the center just headed for there to get something. People coming here now are moving themselves having more realistic way of thinking that there are more possibilities to be an artist itself.

There's a gallery where they can sell their works to foreigners and situations where the information starts connecting to the world. They can take part in what we've done, or open a cafe or lounge by themselves. Of course, incomes from selling products or working in this city should be small compared with Beijing, New York or Paris, but it's more attractive to be able to work in such a place with care as they like. With the Internet, the distance from the center is not a big problem today.

CS:
What kind of project is "...BETWEEN..."?

Neeman:
This project invites the world's notable three artists, Fan Lijun (invited to the last year's Venice Biennale), Yue Mingjun (also invited to Venice Biennale, done the opening poster of Fukuoka Asian Art Museum) and Ye Yongqing to Dali and they develop workshop and creation living in the old houses in Dali. It's interesting to see what kind of works and communications come about in this unique place different from both the ordinary Chinese society and Western culture. This is an entirely independent project organized by Dali Mei Gong River Center of Art and Culture I organize, in cooperation with Kunming Up River Club and Chengdu Up River Art Museum.

Galley@Up River Club

Yue Mingjun's work at "...BETWEEN...": for looking more click here (possessing at Up River Club)

Works created for "...BETWEEN..." are exhibited at a cafe gallery called Up River Club in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan.
This Up River Club was originally built with a brilliant colonial style as a private house of a local banker in 1940's, and had become superannuated without its master after new China was born. Then it was renovated by Ye Yongqing and opened last January.
Those works are exhibited at the cafe's gallery upstairs.

It came as a surprise for me to see the relaxing creation style different from Venice and Fukuoka.
One of the works by Yue Mingjun whose works are based on self-portraits has a smiling face with a skyful of stars.
It makes us smile and lets everyone feel what Dali is for him.

When I first visited Dali 10 years ago, the skyful of stars I experienced at a roadside restaurant (a small brick-built teahouse in the mountains) was imprinted on my mind.
I guess stars and Dali lying under those stars gave Yue Mingjun something different from Beijing and other big cities overseas.
Neeman has continued creating works while thinking of the milky way, always shining as a symbol of hope that exists beyond the chaotic present.

The Up River Club has not only works of this project, but also lots of must-see works for contemporary Chinese pictures.

Up River Club

Up River Club

Artist Workspace @ MCA

Finally, when establishing company and manage work and money themselves, they can get independence...

Both the Up River Club and the Dali Mei Gong River Center of Art and Culture are organized as an entirely independent limited company.
Neeman says, "Making use of funds as a company gives us an independent activity".
Up River Club is run by the proceeds from the cafe and Dali Mei Gong River Center of Art and Culture is run by the proceeds from the cafe and guesthouse called MCA, internet connection and gallery. It also works as an art center.

Those tasks also need a sense as an artist and organizer. Up River Club is a comfortable space where people comfortably spend their time, and serves excellent coffee and tea (which Yunnan is noted for) in a superb way and foods making full use of the fruits of the mountainous country, Yunnan. MCA also gives a comfortable space making the best use of the house of the White tribe.

Besides, they provide workspaces for artists to stay and work without regard to their nationalities.

"We welcome people who want to express themselves here in Dali, provide spaces for them and hope something wonderful will be made here..." (Neeman)

This evening, I met a woman artist who just arrived in Dali from Beijing the day before.
She will continue her creation in a lounge organized by her partner for a couple of years.
While she was e-mailing an Englishman who bought her painting before she came to Dali, she said,

"I'm sure I can devote myself to create something more peacefully than in Peking. What is inconvenience living far away? I think there's no inconvenience. Because I'm now getting ready for a one-man exhibition in Europe next year."

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How to go to Kunming:
Thai International Airline operates flights everyday to Bangkok. About one and half hours flight from Bangkok. From Japan, JAS operates two direct flights a week from the Kansai Airport.

Normally China needs a special visa, get more information at a travel agent.

Up River Club: No 7, HouXin Road, Kunming, Yunnan, China FAX: +86-871-3181464

How to go to Dali:
About 5 hours from Kunming by a Volvo express bus. There are two flights a day from Kunming.

MCA : Mekong river culture & art center
http://yunnanhotels.com/emca.htm

Inter art 21 (art organization by Neeman and Ye Yongqing) http://www.interart21.org/