2023.3
Residency at UntitledSpace, Zhujiajiao, Shanghai Municipality, China
I. Ten Commandments of the Art Circle 艺术圈十诫
I recorded what I observed during the residency on bamboo slips, an ancient Chinese way of writing (laws) before the invention of paper.
Ten Commandments of the Art Circle
1. Enjoy categorizing art. For example, when meeting for the first time or introducing an artist, use medium to summarize what you and other people do.
2. Do mainly drawing and painting because they sell better. It would be great to make small derivatives for the large-sized works.
3. Keep creating works of the same style with the same medium. Make people recognize or remember you.
4. Batch-produce works; standardize and schematize art making.
5. It is considered inconsistent and uncommitted to jump around different fields.
6. Use a considerable number of abstract, borrowed words to write the introduction to your work and exhibition, so that nobody is able to understand, including you. Unswervingly believe that what you write is professional.
7. The introduction to work and exhibition must be related to identity, historical and social problems. Quote psychology and philosophy sometimes, as if you read.
8. Be passionate about discovering the possibilities brought to art by technology and artificial intelligence.
9. Pay close attention to the popular style, medium and technique of the day. Know what sells.
10. Make friends with artists who are like you. Drink, eat, chat, smoke, acknowledge and bless each other.
1. Enjoy categorizing art. For example, when meeting for the first time or introducing an artist, use medium to summarize what you and other people do.
2. Do mainly drawing and painting because they sell better. It would be great to make small derivatives for the large-sized works.
3. Keep creating works of the same style with the same medium. Make people recognize or remember you.
4. Batch-produce works; standardize and schematize art making.
5. It is considered inconsistent and uncommitted to jump around different fields.
6. Use a considerable number of abstract, borrowed words to write the introduction to your work and exhibition, so that nobody is able to understand, including you. Unswervingly believe that what you write is professional.
7. The introduction to work and exhibition must be related to identity, historical and social problems. Quote psychology and philosophy sometimes, as if you read.
8. Be passionate about discovering the possibilities brought to art by technology and artificial intelligence.
9. Pay close attention to the popular style, medium and technique of the day. Know what sells.
10. Make friends with artists who are like you. Drink, eat, chat, smoke, acknowledge and bless each other.
In simplified Chinese:
艺术圈十诫
一、热衷于将艺术归类，比如初次见面或介绍一个艺术家时，用媒介来概括彼此是做什么的。
二、以画画为主要创作媒介，因为最容易卖钱，大画如有小型衍生产品更佳。
三、坚持创作风格单一且媒介单一的作品，让人容易辨识或记住。
四、批量生产作品，将艺术创作标准化、规范化。
五、如在不同领域跳来跳去，则为不坚持、不专心。
六、使用大量舶来词写没人能看懂的作品及展览介绍，并坚定不移地相信自己写的是专业的。
七、作品及展览介绍必须和身份、历史、社会问题相关，有时引用心理学和哲学，仿佛自己读过书。
八、热衷探索科技与人工智能为艺术带来的可能性。
九、时刻关注当下流行风格、媒介和技法，什么最赚钱。
十、与类似自己的艺术家交朋友，喝酒、吃饭、聊天、抽烟，互相认可，充满希望。
一、热衷于将艺术归类，比如初次见面或介绍一个艺术家时，用媒介来概括彼此是做什么的。
二、以画画为主要创作媒介，因为最容易卖钱，大画如有小型衍生产品更佳。
三、坚持创作风格单一且媒介单一的作品，让人容易辨识或记住。
四、批量生产作品，将艺术创作标准化、规范化。
五、如在不同领域跳来跳去，则为不坚持、不专心。
六、使用大量舶来词写没人能看懂的作品及展览介绍，并坚定不移地相信自己写的是专业的。
七、作品及展览介绍必须和身份、历史、社会问题相关，有时引用心理学和哲学，仿佛自己读过书。
八、热衷探索科技与人工智能为艺术带来的可能性。
九、时刻关注当下流行风格、媒介和技法，什么最赚钱。
十、与类似自己的艺术家交朋友，喝酒、吃饭、聊天、抽烟，互相认可，充满希望。
II. Boundary of Art 藝術界
This piece is inspired by the boundary tablets I saw in Zhujiajiao (the third picture above) and in old town Shanghai. Normally they say the name or property of the owner plus the Chinese character 界, which has two meanings, boundary or world. The three characters on this tablet can mean the boundary of art, or the art world.
III. Zhujiajiao Tour and Guidebook by Happy-Go-Lucky Tourist Agency
At the end of the 4-week residency, I made a guidebook and led a 90-minute tour around town.
