Journey (June–July 2010)2009.06.07–09.05
- -+
The journey begins in Beijing and Shanghai, where two divisions traveled respectively to Phnom Penh, Cambodia from June 13:
00:00
Location: A food stand nearby Castle Hotel
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Upon checking in Castle Hotel, Phnom Penh, Project Administrator Sheryl scurries off to make necessary phone calls and send emails in preparation for our upcoming meetings. Meanwhile, the team strolls along nearby alleyways in search for a night food stand to reward rumbling stomach. Lu Jie reads out loud phone messages from Second Project Unit as they discuss about artist and curator relationships.
8:46-13:50
Location: Rooftop restaurant of Castle Hotel
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: The first breakfast discussion in Phnom Penh starts upon Lu Jie’s initiation. On behalf of the team, Jiang Yizhou and Weng Zhenqi head to the banks for currency exchange. They return with batches Cambodian Riel.
12:00
Location: Vietnam and Cambodia boarder
Participants: Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Luo Wenhong, Nguyen Nhu Huy
Event: Second Project Unit meets Project member Nguyen Nhu Huy unexpectedly at the Vietnam -Cambodia boarder. Together they continue to travel towards Phnom Penh as the bilingual team members Song Yi and Luo Wenhong help facilitate the Chinese-English conversation.
14:00-15:00
Location: Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument, Independence Monument
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung , Jiang Yizhou
Event: Under the hot sun of Phnom Penh, Xiao Peng leads Long Marchers to visit the Independence Monument and the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument. In face of questions about Cambodian modernity, Xiao Peng maintains his principle that he must not answer. To engage local participants with the project’s historical points of interest, Long marchers will search for other ways to open up dialogue.
15:00-16:00
Location: Cambodia Royal Palace
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Luo Wenhong, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung , Jiang Yizhou,
Event: The two Project Divisions unite in front of the Cambodian Royal Palace.
18:00-21:30
Location: Sa Sa Art Projects
Participants: Lyno Vuth, Leang Seckon, Fleur Smith, Davy Chou, Tith Kanitha, Ravuth Heng, Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Luo Wenhong, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung , Jiang Yizhou
Event: Long Marchers visit artist-run space Sa Sa Art Projects, then attends an presentation exchange with young Cambodian artists. Lyno Vuth graciously gives a presentation about the gallery while Leang Seckon’s presents his rubbish project in slides. In face of such a project with environmental agendas, Long Marchers find it difficult to initiate dialogue. The conference continues over served dinner while Vietnamese artist Nguyen Nhu Huy screens his film work about telling lies and Liu Wei shares a portfolio of images.
22:00-00:00
Location: Lobby of Castle Hotel
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Luo Wenhong, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung , Jiang Yizhou,
Event: Long Marchers settle in outdoor seating at a nearby bar. They discuss about their first encounter with Cambodian artistic scene and self-evaluate their efforts of engagement.
June 14
10:00-13:00
Location: Rooftop restaurant of Castle Hotel
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Luo Wenhong, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung , Jiang Yizhou,
Event: The team initiates their second breakfast meeting. As the day approaches noon, Zhang Hui articulates the key terms of discussion: the conditions of detaching from, entering into, and constructing a new domain.
14:00-16:00
Location: S-21 prison
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Luo Wenhong, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung , Jiang Yizhou,
Event: Long Marchers visit S21. Xiao Peng’s dramatic demonstrations of Khmer Rouge torture methods add to the already emotionally intense atmosphere. Long Marchers conduct a heated debate on the prison history while young marchers express their discomfort with such rational talk.
16:30-21:00
Location: Bophana Audio Visual Centre
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Luo Wenhong, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung , Jiang Yizhou, Lyno Vuth, Leang Seckon, Fleur Smith, Noy Chum, Sopheap Chea
Event: Long Marchers engage in discussion with Sopheap and Nom from Bophana Center. Lu Jie and Gao Shiming question the idea of an objectively constructed archive and probe the ideology behind foreign NGO organizations. At night, Leang Seckon and Dong Jun each screen a section of their film and documentary. Liu Wei shares with other marchers in the audience: ‘I am now beginning to read curators and theorists as artworks.’
June 15
10:00-12:00
Location: Rooftop restaurant of Castle Hotel
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Luo Wenhong, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Xu Zhen initiates today’s breakfast meeting with the hypothesis that ‘Artists today are not facing a general decline of creativity but an inability to locate what drives them to work.’ Wang Jianwei quotes, ‘Lenin once exclaimed that he could not find a local map in a city as big as St. Petersburg.’ Meanwhile, Long Marcher Wu Shanzhuan sends the team a mobile text from Hong Kong, ‘let’s begin with the beautiful formula: @=p3wc’.
14:30-17:00
Location: Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Luo Wenhong faints from a serious heat stroke at a local convenient store. The store manager rushes her to a nearby hospital. Meanwhile, the several Long Marchers set off to visit the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek while Project Administrators stay behind to work in the hotel. At night, a thunderstorm helps alleviate some tension hovering in the atmosphere.
18:30-22:00
Location: Meta House
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Luo Wenhong, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung , Jiang Yizhou, Lyno Vuth、Fleur Smith、Sim Sitho, Chhounni Synan, Chum Reap, Neang Kavich, Yon Davy, Chaya, Hen Sreang, Chrek Sophea, Em Saeim, Lydia Parusol
Event: Long Marchers engage in heated debate with Cambodian social workers, architects, and filmmakers. Local participants express their distrust of the Ho Chi Minh Trail Project. Lu Xinghua and Ian discuss the question‘what is means to be radical’while filmmaker Chum questions the Project’s agenda and naming. The night carries on with direct verbal confrontations and concludes with Wang Jianwei’s comment that ‘silence is also a way of communication’.
22:30-23:30
Location: Lobby of Castle Hotel
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Luo Wenhong, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Long Marchers lounge in separate sofa sets in the hotel lobby. Lu Jie, Song Yi, and the Chinese artists carry on their discussions on one side while Huy, Sheryl, Jiang Yizhou, Du Keke, and Weng Zhengqi chat over today’s encounters in another corner.
June 16
9:30-11:30
Location: Rooftop restaurant of Castle Hotel
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Luo Wenhong, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung
Event: At the breakfast table, Gao Shiming shares his thoughts, “What we are facing is not the history but the narration of Ho Chi Minh Trail. We speak of politics, economy and art; and by politics we touch upon the idea of power, ideology and oppression; by economy we touch upon production relationships, benefit and exchange value. Long March Project encompasses views that are both leftist in right wing and rightist in leftist thinking.” “During last night’s discussion with Meta House, local participants, representatives of the local, and the Long March team were all engaging each other as host and guest, we were mutually concerned about something that cannot be expressed.
12:30-14:30
Location: Reyum Institutes of Art and Culture
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Luo Wenhong, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Lyno Vuth, Ly Daravuth
Event: Ly Daravuth and the Long March team gather in the gallery space of Reyum Institute. Daravuth shares his thoughts on Cambodian modernity, education, and cultural developments and the efforts of Reyum Institute over the past two decades. The group discusses the sustainability of idealistic, grassroot organizations, the narration of recent Cambodian history, as well as issues of translation in publication and international exchanges. Daravuth explains the indirect nature of Cambodian language and culture; he says, “In Cambodia, a direct gaze can cause a killing”.
21:00-22:30
Location: Lobby of Castle Hotel
Participants: Lu Jie, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: At night, young Long Marchers and Lu Jie gather in the hotel lobby and chat about their thoughts on the journey thus far. They speak of constructive means to probe the multilayers of history that lie below simplified presentations of historical events. Lu Jie states, “I will never be convinced by any simple and dramatic narration of history”.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, June 17:
9:00
Boarder-crossing
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Luo Wenhong, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Long Marchers board the morning coach and cross the Mekong River. Xiao Peng sends off Long Marchers at the Vietnam-Cambodia border with scarves, chopsticks, and other souvenirs. The immigration officers stare at the group in silent demand for tips, but the group refuses to pay. As the marchers walk across the border, Lu Jie and Wang Jianwei take note of the different lamp post designs and subtle cement color differences on either side of the border.
14:00
Ho Chi Minh City
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Luo Wenhong, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Vietnamese guide Mr. Qiu leads the Long Marchers to the Saigon-bound coach. Contrary to Xiao Peng, Qiu is a thin, dark man curt with words. The group naps on the bus until they reach the bustling city of Saigon.
.
19:00
Lobby of Ramana Hotel
Participants: Wang Jianwei, Liu Wei, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Long Marcher Huy takes the team to his favorite outdoor food vendor, where the team feasts on noodles and rice. After dinner, several members return to the hotel bar for discussion. The direction of such internal discussions are slowly changing from “criticizing whoever is not present” to “self-criticism.”
June 18
Morning
Location: Restaurant of Ramana Hotel
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung
Event: Internal meetings.
Afternoon
Location: HCM City University of Fine Arts
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Weng Zhenqi, Sheryl Cheung, Hoang Dieu, Nguyen Van Minh
Event: Long Marchers visit Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts and speak with Director Nguyen Hoang and International Department Director Nguyen Van Minh. Together they discuss the current conditions of art education in Vietnam and the development of international exchange with other art institutes.
Afternoon
Location: Reunification Palace
Participants: Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Song Yi, Luo Wenhong, Du Keke, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Several Long Marchers and Mr. Qiu visit the Reunification Palace in the morning. In several occasions Mr. Qiu uses the term “the fall”to describe Vietnam’s revolution and lament that living conditions are not as good as before. On the way back to the hotel, Long Marchers prepare a criticism session for Gao Shiming and discuss their dislike of curators’tendency to summarize.
Evening
Location: DIA/PROJECTS
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Luo Wenhong, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Rich Streitmatter-Tran、Hoang Dieu
Event: Rich Streitmatter-Tran greets Long Marchers at his new space DIA/PROJECTS. Long Marchers raise their concerns on the possibilities of effective international exchange.
Midnight
Location: Restaurant of Ramana Hotel
Participants: Lu Jie, Wang Jianwei, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Luo Wenhong, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung
Event: Long Marchers gather at the hotel lobby for a night discussion. Xu Zhen warns the group against the institutionalization of such internal meetings and encourage that marchers all maintain an sensitized and undomesticated attitude.”Meanwhile, Project Volunteer Luo Wenhong and Administrator Song Yi discuss their plans to update the Chinese twitter web. After their meeting, Luo Wenhong faints in the elevator and is immediately rushed to the hospital for examination.
June 19
Morning
Location: Restaurant of Ramana Hotel
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung
Event: Luo Wenhong is persuaded to transfer to the local French hospital for further examination. After seeing her off, the artists initiate a breakfast meeting dedicated to the criticism of Gao Shiming. They bring out their concerns of Gao’s consumption of art and his perfectionist attitude towards theoretical explanations of artworks. Gao Shiming sincerely jots down these comments in his personal journal.
Afternoon
Location: HIMIKO CAFÉ
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Rich Streitmatter-Tran、Hoang Dieu、Trang Nguyen、Nyuen Quan、Dinh Q Le, and other Saigon artists.
Event: On this hot, rainy day, Long Marchers attend a five- hour public meeting at Himiko Café. Former Vietnam Art Association Deputy Director Nguyen Quan, SanArt Director Dinh Q Le, DIA Projects Founder Richard Streitmatter-Tran, ZeroStation Founder Nguyen Nhu Huy, and Lu Jie initiate the panel discussion at the center of the room. The discussion successfully brought out a lot of honest confessions. Meanwhile, Luo Wenhong is diagnosed with severe stomach bleeding and is admitted to stay several nights at the hospital while the rest of the team prepares to depart to Hue.
Night
Location: Ho Chi Minh Train Station
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Trang Nguyen
Event: After serious consideration, Long Marchers requests the help of Mr. Qiu to look after Luo Wenhong while she is treated at the hospital. With sadness of leaving a traveler behind, the team boards the northbound train to Hue.
Midnight
Location: On the train SE4
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Trang Nguyen
Event: Long Marchers post propaganda stickers all along the sleeper’s train walls and windows. The team occupies six cabins—five for team members to rest in and one extra cabin for luggage and equipment.
June 20
Morning
Location: On the train SE4
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Trang Nguyen
Event: Long Marchers huddle in one single cabin for an overnight discussion about various topics including Brecht’s Mother Courage and the consumption of an oversupply of artworks. Team member intermittently leave the room for phone calls, naps, snacks, and small talk.
Afternoon
Location: Da Nang
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Trang Nguyen
Event: Local guide Mr. Deng greets us at Da Nang station where Long Marchers descend the train for a feast along the coastline. Young marchers play on the beach while the remaining team properly finishes their meal, makes conversation and recites poems. In between, Liu Wei strips naked and runs into the ocean. At dusk Long Marchers regroup and board the bus to Hue.
Evening
Location: Green Hotel in Hue
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Trang Nguyen
Event: Long Marchers finally arrive in Hue. They hold their first brainstorm meeting about the upcoming acts of Rehearsal scheduled in Beijing and Shanghai as part of the Shanghai Bienniale. The team is satisfied by the successful and indepth meeting, and are even more pleased to hear that Luo Wenhong’s health conditions are greatly improving.
Hue, Vietnam, June 21:
Morning
Location: Boi Tran’s house
Participants: Boi Tran, Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Trang Nguyen, Su Baixin
Event: The last royal family member of Vietnam Ms Boi Tran received Long Marchers at her residence. Over specialty dishes prepared from royalty recipes, the team discusses with Mr. Boi Tran about her collection of Vietnamese art.
Afternoon
Location: New Space Art Foundation
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wang Jianwei, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Trang Nguyen, Le Duc Hai, Le Ngoc Thanh, performance artists and art students residing in the Hue area.
Event: Long Marchers attend a public meeting co-organized with the Le Brothers at New Space Foundation. The meeting begins with a comprehensive overview of Hue’s contemporary art scene, as prepared by the Le Brothers. The subsequent discussion surrounds Lu Xinghua’s disctinction between individuality and singularity, globalization and universalization and how these elements play in the production of art.
Late afternoon
Location: Green Hotel in Hue
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Johnson Chang, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: The team welcomes the arrival of Long Marchers Johnson Chang and Wu Shanzhuan and bids farewell to Wang Jianwei who returns to Beijing tonight. Upon departure Wang Jianwei shares with several young marchers: “I have just lived through the shortest ten days in my life.”
Evening
Location: Green Hotel in Hue
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Johnson Chang, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui
Event: After dinner with the Le Brothers, Long Marchers sit beside the hotel pool under the star-lit sky. They continue their ongoing discussion of artist-curator relationships while young marchers teach each other how to swim in the pool.
Dong Ha, Vietnam, June 22:
Morning
Location: Old town of Hue
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Johnson Chang, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Under heavy rain, Long Marchers visit the Hue Royal Palace.
Afternoon
Location: DMZ
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Johnson Chang, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Long Marchers cross the Ben Hai Bridge and journey towards the DMZ zone. Children swim in the Ben Hai River as old men fish on the bridge. Wu Shanzhuan comments,“No river can stop people from crossing.”while Gao Shiming shares, “a divided nation causes a lot of suffering.”The group revisits their previous hypothesis that 20th century nationalist movements are all consequences of fragmented imperialist policies.
Night
Location: Huu Nghi Hotel in Dong Ha
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Johnson Chang, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Long Marchers congregate outside the hotel and hold their first general meeting to reflect upon the journey thus far. Female laughter from an adjacent massage room continually rise in the background.
Various sites in Laos, June 23:
Morning
Location: Huu Nghi Hotel in Dong Ha
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Johnson Chang, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Long Marcher Brian Doan joins the team at Dong Ha and together they board the bus bound for the Vietnam-Laos border. Border officials again ask for tips in the summer heat, while trudges across the border line with heavy equipment.
Afternoon
Location: Dansavanh, Laos
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Johnson Chang, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Upon entering Laos, local guide Afa cheerfully greats the team and leads us to a nearby restaurant.
Night
Location: Dansavanh, Laos
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Johnson Chang, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Brian Doan shares with the team a brief presentation of his work as a Vietnamese living abroad. Discussions last past 2 am in the morning and the team retire to sleep in preparation for tomorrow’s walk.
June 24
6:30-12:00
Location: Dansavanh, Laos
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Johnson Chang, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: In the morning mist and the dimness of dawn, Long Marchers set off for a 25 hour walk on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Several marchers insist on walking with sandals while the rest of the team prepare with comfortable footwear. During the five hour walk, the team passes by wild pigs, water buffalos, goats, local children and roadside villages. The marchers conclude their walk by feasting at a small noodle shop while a throng of goats and dogs fight outside.
Afternoon
Location: Dansavanh to Savannakhet, Laos
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Johnson Chang, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Long Marchers board the bus to Savannakhet.
Evening
Location: Savannakhet, Laos
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Johnson Chang, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Savannakhet is characterized by its Buddhist temples, French colonial houses, monks and Caucasian travelers. Long marchers discover a riverside restaurant and settle for dinner as Afa tells stories about the Laos-Thailand border.
Night
Location: Leena hostel, Savannakhet
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Johnson Chang, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Lu Xinhua shares his thoughts about “the new generation of left wing thinkers” the team engages in heated discussion.
June 25
Morning
Location: Transition from Savannakhet to Vientiane
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Johnson Chang, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Long Marchers travel 8 hours from Savannakhet to Vientiane by coach. Along the way the group is told about another interesting nearby section of the historical Ho Chi Minh Trail, and the administrative team discusses possibilities visiting this site.
Evening
Location: Vientiane
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Johnson Chang, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Long Marchers arrive in Vientiane and rests for the night.
Vientiane, Laos, June 26:
Morning
Location: Laos Academy of Social Sciences (LASS)
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Johnson Chang, Lu Xinghua, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Sheryl Cheung, Khemphone Phaokhamkeo, Chanthaphilith Chiemsisouraj, Director of Contemporary Art and Culture Department, The Chairman of Fine Art Institute, Director of Institute of History.
Event: Long Marchers engage in dialogue with the Laos Academy of Social Sciences (LASS). The team is much impressed by their progressive clear direction of research as well as their establishment of a contemporary art research department. During conversation the Laotian delegates mention that Nanning 67 Middle School plays an important part of Laotian history as many important Communist members were educated there.
Morning
Location: Ramayana Gallery Hotel, Vientiane
Participants: Wu Shanzhuan, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Brian Doan, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Long Marcher Wang Jiahao initiate a breakfast meeting at the hotel. The discussion center around the issues of social readymade from an architectural point of view.
Afternoon
Location: Kaysone Phomvihane Memorial
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Johnson Chang, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Upon arriving at the Kaysone Phomvihane Memorial, Long Marchers are greeted by a group of young Buddhist monks in orange robe just leaving the memorial hall from a spiritual conference. In the book collection Phomvihane, Long Marchers discover books authored by Lu Shuo.
Evening
Location: Ramayana Gallery Hotel, Vientiane
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Johnson Chang, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Long Marchers conduct their second general review meeting of the journey thus far. Johnson Chang proposes to meditate upon the verb “journey”and discuss how we have continually self-evaluated and revised our travel and communication strategies throughout the last several weeks.
June 27
Morning
Location: Local market, Vientiane
People and event: Long Marchers bid farewell to Johnson Chang who departs tonight for Hong Kong. Despite physical separation, he will continue his Ho Chi Minh Trail wherever he travels.
Afternoon
Location: Long-distance Coach Station, Vientiane
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Song Yi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: The Second Project Unit (ground troop) departs from the rest of the team to board the bus for Hanoi. After inspection the team is relieved that the bus conditions are much better than the long distance coach from Hanoi-Saigon.
June 28
Afternoon
Location: Vientiane Airport
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Long Marchers bid farewell to local guide Afa and head towards the airport for a Hanoi-bound flight.
Evening
Location: Bao Son International Hotel, Hanoi
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Chen Yun
Event: The Second Project Unity and the rest of the team unite again in Hanoi. They greet Long Marcher Chen Yun who has just flown in from Shanghai. Together the entire group shares supper while several marchers discuss world cup statistics.
Hanoi, Vietnam, June 29:
Morning
Location: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Chen Yun, Nguyen Quang Vinh
Event: Long Marchers follow the heavy flow of Vietnamese visitors that stream through the Ho Chi Minh Memorial. Upon entering the HCM Museum, Long Marchers are surprised to find an extensive presentation of Avant Garde artworks from the 30s. Long Marcher Nguyen Quang Vinh joins the traveling team and together the group sets off to lunch.
Afternoon
Location: Ho Chi Minh Trail Museum
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Chen Yun, Nguyen Quang Vinh
Event: Long Marchers visit the Ho Chi Min Trail Museum. This is a museum that very few local are aware of, and the administrative team had located its information through the internet. At the museum Long Marchers watched a Chinese subtitled documentary film on the trail. Wu Shanzhuan comments, “The fundamental nature of Ho Chi Minh Trail is logistics.”
Afternoon
Location: A restaurant in Hanoi
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Chen Yun, Nguyen Quang Vinh, Tran Luong、Nguyen Thu Giang
Event: Curator Tran Luong joins the team for dinner at a nearby restaurant. He invites the marchers to visit Nasan House for a public discussion, and the team happily agrees.
June 30
Morning
Location: Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences(VASS)
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Lu Xinghua, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Zhang Hui, Weng Zhenqi, Sheryl Cheung, Nguyen Quang Vinh, Nguyen Thu Giang, Dang Nguyen Anh, Nguyen Xuan Thang, Pham Van Duc, Pham Quang Hoan, Nguyen Ngoc Mao, Le Hoy Ly
Event: Long Marchers visit the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences and conduct a meeting with its representatives.
Afternoon
Location: Bao Son International Hotel, Hanoi
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Chen Yun, Nguyen Quang Vinh
Event: Long Marchers bid farewell to Wu Shanzhuan who leaves for Shanghai. After several work sessions, Long Marchers come up with two documents, “Eight Points from Artists on the Ho Chi Minh Trail” and“Seven Points from Thinkers on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.”
18:30-21:30
Location: Goethe-Institute, Hanoi
Participants: Dao Chau Hai, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Chen Yun, Trang Luong, Nguyen Thu Giang, Nguyen Quang Vinh, Do Tuong Linh
Event: Long Marchers arrive at Goethe Institute, Hanoi. Local artists, writers, thinkers and other cultural workers continually file in; the public meeting begins with a packed room. The national television channel cameraman enters in and out the room intermittently, as Dao Chau Hai opens with his thoughts about the official and nonofficial arts organizations in Hanoi. His presentation is followed by a open review of the Ho Chi Minh Trail journey since 2008. Confessions were shared by Long Marchers as well as from local writers, artists, and curator Tran Luong in the audience. During the meeting, Xu Zhen experiences heart pain and returns early to the hotel.
22:00-23:00
Location: A restaurant, Hanoi
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Wu Shanzhuan, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Chen Yun, Nguyen Quang Vinh, Nguyen Thu Giang, Nguyen Quang Vinh, Do Tuong Linh
Event: Do Tuong Linh leads Long Marchers and interested Goethe meeting attendees to dine at a local restaurant. After a few drinks, Lu Jie surprises the team by delivering a raw confession on his personal views of socialism.
July 1
Morning
Location: Hanoi Fine Art University, Hanoi
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Weng Zhenqi, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Nguyen Quang Vinh, Nguyen Thu Giang, University Vice Present, Dean of Sculpture Department, Dean of Theory and History Department, Head of International Relations, Head of Graphic Design, Professor of Painting Department, Head of Administration
Event: Long Marchers greet delegates from the Hanoi Fine Arts University for a morning discussion. They discuss the influence of socialist memory in Vietnamese contemporary art and art education, the interdependency of theory and studio art education, art education’s relation to the professional arts community, and how the academy address the questions,“What is contemporary? What is contemporary art?”
14:00-15:00
Location: Natasha Studio, Tabioto Bar
Participants: Natasha Kraevskaia, Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Chen Yun, Nguyen Quang Vinh, Nguyen Thu Giang、Duong Tuong, Pham Toan, Dao Mai Trang
Event: Natasha Kraevskaia shares with Long Marchers a presentation of Vu Dan Tan’s legendary life. Senior writer and critic Pham Toan and Duong Tuong join in discussion of the developments of Vietnamese contemporary art and the conditions back in the 60-70s.
Evening
Location: Nha San House
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Chen Yun, Nguyen Quang Vinh, Nguyen Thu Giang、Tran Luong and family
Event: With Tran Luong’s invitation, Long Marchers arrive at Nasan House for dinner and discussion. Tran Luong opens the evening with rice wine and a screening of his recent collective project conducted in Cambodia. Brian Doan follows by screening a panel discussion he had engaged in regarding community responsibility and artistic production. Amidst intense debate about art and politics, Zhang Hui proposes that politics and art are inseparable. Once they are forcibly separated, art can easily become a political propaganda tool. He quotes Lu Xun’s response to Ibsen’s Doll’s House, “What happens after Nora leaves the house?”
Nanning, China, July 2:
Morning
Location: Bao Son International Hotel, Hanoi
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Brian Doan, Nguyen Nhu Huy, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Nguyen Quang Vinh
Event: Long Marchers bid farwell to Brian Doan and Nguyen Nhu Huy who both return back to Saigon. The Chinese marchers board the sleeper train to Nanning.
Afternoon
Location: Friendship Pass, Nanning, China
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Long Marchers pass through Chinese immigration at the China-Vietnam border control. Liu Wei is kept waiting for half and hour while officers figure how to input his Chinese character “Wei”on the computer. The character is rarely used and omitted by many conventional pinyin computer systems. The border control officers finally release Liu Wei from the gates and together the team boards a Nanning bound bus.
Evening
Location: Nanning, China
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Long Marchers sing Karaoke in a local Nanning bar.
July 3
Morning
Location: Nanning Train Station
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Lu Xinghua, Liu Wei, Wang Jiahao, Xu Zhen, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Dong Jun, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Long Marchers bid farewell to each other at Nanning Train Station as team divisions go three separate ways (Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’an).
Morning
Location: Transmission on the Train
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: On the sleeper coach, the Beijing-bound division read books and chat with each other the course of the trip. At night the team again congregates in one single cabin for a review of the month-long journey.
July 4
Afternoon
Location: Beijing Train Station
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou
Event: Long Marchers in Beijing receive the home-bound team at the Beijing Train Station with flowers and warm smiles.
July 5
Afternoon
Location: Long March Canteen, Beijing
Participants: Lu Jie, Gao Shiming, Chen Chieh-jen, Liu Wei, Zhang Hui, Song Yi, Weng Zhenqi, Du Keke, Sheryl Cheung, Jiang Yizhou, Steven Lee, Zhen Bo, Chen Guanzhong, Shu Kewen, Shen Lin, Zhao Yao, Wang Tianxiang, Fei Gang, Sun Dongdong, Chen Jie, You Yang, Lin Yu, Lu Wen
Event: Beijing artists, curators, media workers and arts professors attend Steven Lee’s presentation of the 1930s’ avant garde play Roar China in the Long March Canteen. Lu Jie and Gao Shiming follow the presentation by sharing a report of the Ho Chi Minh Trail journey.
Participants: Ten writers and thinkers invited as participating artists; ten artists invited as participating thinkers; four Long March staff members; and four media representatives and volunteers.
Venues: The team travels from China to Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Vientiane, Hanoi, Hue, and a segment on the Ho Chi Minh Trail
Throughout the journey, the team of 28 travelers engaged with local and international participants. Both of the parties were simultaneously hosts and guests to explore issues of globalization and local, Empire and The Third World, ideology and politics, art and theory, and other critical questions that concern us today. While the journey will be realized mostly by bus transportation, there will be a walking segment through a critical Ho Chi Minh Trail portion in Laos.