Field strategy: Hosting the Chinese delegation
For better understanding of the Chinese culture, I’ve been to China in 2018 to learn the language. I was able to use this knowledge during this project, where I’ve been invited to be a connector and host of the Chinese delegation. I’ve attended several meetings at which I could use my Chinese knowledge. I got the opportunity to be the host for the Chinese delegation. I showed them our installation and despite that it didn’t work properly, I managed to convince them to ship it to their light festival.
During several meetings with a Chinese light art performer, I got more understanding about his way of making art and what is needed to change his art to perform it in this western country during a light art festival. After observation and having asked some questions, I’ve learned that the light art in the western world needs to be more bombastic than in China, where the art is more refined and has a cultural story behind it. There, a work of art often has more to do with a story, than with innovation or originality. In the case of the Glowie installation, it means that the visuals need to relate more to the Chinese culture. It also means that the whole installation needs to be refined and more culturally relevant aspects need to be added.
