Veneer

Yesterday I left the hotel without my camera. So there are no images to support this post. I went to an area where local artists and craftsmen had studios and shops in a lane way where there were also coffee shops and tearooms. It was interesting to see that there were photographers and models everywhere I went. This is obviously considered a very marketable aspect of Shanghai.
It was only a very small area, almost a veneer, and ten steps away the relentless commerce of local life continued with shops selling obscure body parts of roasted birds and house hold goods.
I walked for a while until my foot gave out and then went to the famous Bund which was being dug up. I think Campbell Newman is on their planning committee.
Again there were some small shops and then street after street of office buildings.
I have steadfastly avoided anywhere that advertises and sells brands.
One more comment. The food has been really ordinary if not downright awful. I wonder if the cultural revolution generation forgot how to cook. The only good things have been the really fresh green steamed veges.
I fell like I have visited the western veneer of China and as I am not a traveller who enjoys the voyeurism of tourism in third world countries I don't know if I want to see more.
I am looking forward to my favourite Chicago tomorrow.

Through the outward looking glass

All the walls of the Museum are glass and the views of life in contemporary Shanghai speak of the new and the old worlds.

Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art

The museum had an exhibition of new media. Some of the work was a little less inspiring but I loved this work which was presented in an enclosure covered in wallpaper with chinese script and beautiful diagrams with layers of images over the top. Inside the walls were covered with projections of english script. The work was a collaboration between a Chinese and a European Artist but as my reporting skills are still not up to scratch I omitted to write down their names.
Of course I loved the work because of the colour.

Thoughtful recommendations for enjoyment

I hope this is visible. The writing on the tea tray says 'adding some hot water gives you a better taste'. I followed the directions but I am a little tempted to put the suggestion to the test and try the dry tea.

Tolerance

I love a country where tree hugging is acceptable.

Isn't it beautiful?

This my first image from Shanghai. It's a fire extinguisher box at the Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art. That's not to say there was nothing else noteworthy. ( more coming) I just thought that it was exquisite.

What am I Doing??

Well it's three and a half days until I leave for Ragdale. I am very disorganized. I should be doing the BAS statement which falls due while I am away. I should be tidying up my affairs but I am much too busy uploading music to my computer and washing possible travel clothes in the new washing machine. If you follow this blog for long enough you might one day see the old washing machine star in a film and then, and only then, will you understand my uncharacteristic interest in this new domestic implement.