CHINA
BEIJING GRAFITTI
29
HUTCHEON: For a country with five thousand years of history as the propaganda goes, in the capital Beijing theyre wasting no time knocking it down. Back street tradition and heritage is being bulldozed in record time. thousands of buildings in the past year alone. In the thunder of development one man at least is secretly and silently making his anger known. Enough is enough.
Zhang: Beijing is trying to change from a not-so-modern city to a modern one. During this transition there are a lot of problems for instance, ancient things are disappearing-roads are being widened- traditions are being lost.
HUTCHEON: For five years now, a bald headed motif and the slogan AK47 have peppered the citys once historic precincts, confusing locals and infuriating authorities. Here graffiti isnt simply an act of vandalism, its an outrage, an affront to the partys need for order, a symbol of dangerous anarchy.
So far the culprit has eluded the law, but not us. The phantom artist is careful to do his worst in the dead of night.
Zhang: On the one hand I feel excited- on the other I must be very careful.
HUTCHEON: He pedals through the streets of Beijing, sometimes hitting several locations a night.
His alias is AK47, implying development is hitting the city like a round of automatic gunfire.
Zhang: We are underground artists because our art cant be understood by the majority of people. For example, the government probably doesnt like it because this kind of art is too impetuous- the things we reveal are too profound.
HUTCHEON: In real life, Beijing's graffiti artist is a quietly spoken painted named Zhang Dali.
The law means he cant make his name on the walls of Beijing. Theres no place for his studio work in state controlled galleries and museums. The police are pretty sure hes responsible for the graffiti, but have to catch him in the act.
Zhang: The police have come to talk to me. They come here and ask what kind of art this is- what did I paint this for- what kind of person I am- and how many people are doing this.
Zhang: They wanted to see my work so I showed them and they said Its fine to do your modern art within your studio but youd better not paint outside.
Music
HUTCHEON: This is the sort of outdoor art official China loves. In the past year, Beijing's authorities have remade this ancient capital to match its aspirations of becoming a great power. But outdoor art is still in a kitsch phase, wether its asbestos pandas, or the unique post office statue, promoting the yesteryear of snail mail.
In the back streets, neighbours lucky enough to own a Zhang Dali original arent quite sure what to do with their prize. A few days after the heads appeared, I sought the local neighbourhood committee director, for his critique.
HUTCHEON: Do you think this is art?
Xiao: This isnt art! If they draw on a wall its ugly. If its real art, they should go and paint in a gallery- thats art! If they draw here, and say thats art well, these big heads are just ugly.
HUTCHEON: Do you think it is beautiful?
Man: Beautiful? It cant be beautiful!
HUTCHEON: Why?
Man: Well, its hard to say- I dont know what it means. I really dont know why they drew this I dont know why.
HUTCHEON: Director Xiao is curious about the graffiti phantoms methods - spray paint has only recently been available in China.
Xiao: I wont fade- it isnt this stuff. It was done by a special pen- not charcoal if you use charcoal, you couldnt get in the crack, see?
HUTCHEON: Yes, right.
HUTCHEON: As the good neighbours of Beijing ponder the meaning of the mystery heads, Director Xiao has ordered the wall scrubbed clean; my penance for being the one to publicise the outrageous act in the first place.
HUTCHEON: Its not coming off.
BYRNE: A little community service for Jane Hutcheon in Beijing. And thats the program. Thanks for your company and I hope you can enjoy me next time for more of Foreign Correspondent. See you then.
BEIJING GRAFITTI
29
HUTCHEON: For a country with five thousand years of history as the propaganda goes, in the capital Beijing theyre wasting no time knocking it down. Back street tradition and heritage is being bulldozed in record time. thousands of buildings in the past year alone. In the thunder of development one man at least is secretly and silently making his anger known. Enough is enough.
Zhang: Beijing is trying to change from a not-so-modern city to a modern one. During this transition there are a lot of problems for instance, ancient things are disappearing-roads are being widened- traditions are being lost.
HUTCHEON: For five years now, a bald headed motif and the slogan AK47 have peppered the citys once historic precincts, confusing locals and infuriating authorities. Here graffiti isnt simply an act of vandalism, its an outrage, an affront to the partys need for order, a symbol of dangerous anarchy.
So far the culprit has eluded the law, but not us. The phantom artist is careful to do his worst in the dead of night.
Zhang: On the one hand I feel excited- on the other I must be very careful.
HUTCHEON: He pedals through the streets of Beijing, sometimes hitting several locations a night.
His alias is AK47, implying development is hitting the city like a round of automatic gunfire.
Zhang: We are underground artists because our art cant be understood by the majority of people. For example, the government probably doesnt like it because this kind of art is too impetuous- the things we reveal are too profound.
HUTCHEON: In real life, Beijing's graffiti artist is a quietly spoken painted named Zhang Dali.
The law means he cant make his name on the walls of Beijing. Theres no place for his studio work in state controlled galleries and museums. The police are pretty sure hes responsible for the graffiti, but have to catch him in the act.
Zhang: The police have come to talk to me. They come here and ask what kind of art this is- what did I paint this for- what kind of person I am- and how many people are doing this.
Zhang: They wanted to see my work so I showed them and they said Its fine to do your modern art within your studio but youd better not paint outside.
Music
HUTCHEON: This is the sort of outdoor art official China loves. In the past year, Beijing's authorities have remade this ancient capital to match its aspirations of becoming a great power. But outdoor art is still in a kitsch phase, wether its asbestos pandas, or the unique post office statue, promoting the yesteryear of snail mail.
In the back streets, neighbours lucky enough to own a Zhang Dali original arent quite sure what to do with their prize. A few days after the heads appeared, I sought the local neighbourhood committee director, for his critique.
HUTCHEON: Do you think this is art?
Xiao: This isnt art! If they draw on a wall its ugly. If its real art, they should go and paint in a gallery- thats art! If they draw here, and say thats art well, these big heads are just ugly.
HUTCHEON: Do you think it is beautiful?
Man: Beautiful? It cant be beautiful!
HUTCHEON: Why?
Man: Well, its hard to say- I dont know what it means. I really dont know why they drew this I dont know why.
HUTCHEON: Director Xiao is curious about the graffiti phantoms methods - spray paint has only recently been available in China.
Xiao: I wont fade- it isnt this stuff. It was done by a special pen- not charcoal if you use charcoal, you couldnt get in the crack, see?
HUTCHEON: Yes, right.
HUTCHEON: As the good neighbours of Beijing ponder the meaning of the mystery heads, Director Xiao has ordered the wall scrubbed clean; my penance for being the one to publicise the outrageous act in the first place.
HUTCHEON: Its not coming off.
BYRNE: A little community service for Jane Hutcheon in Beijing. And thats the program. Thanks for your company and I hope you can enjoy me next time for more of Foreign Correspondent. See you then.