Happy Stacking | Nanling, China | 2008

As part of Seven Samurai, invited by Grizedale Arts and Vitamin Creative Space, Guangdong, China. Working collaboratively with local inhabitants Lin Han Wa & Zhang Wei Jun: Locally Produced Dried Foodstuffs & Peanut Oil Manufacture Invited to undertake a research and development residency in rural eco-tourist destination Nanling, a remote settlement undergoing cultural shifts in tourism and development. Local Produce, Craft & Tourism Since the people are the real charm of Nanling I engaged closely with two small family-run businesses to communicate stories of process and location and catalyse their part in the art process. It became clear to me that a craft orientated product would be valuable to the local economy, transforming homogenous products into more informative personalized goods and harnessing skills and awareness of tourist/local interchange. The products transposed an aesthetic value intrinsic to my practice, whilst posing viable and lucrative benefits for Nanling market stall. My residency resulted in collaboration with a local school teacher, Maggie, a calligrapher and brush artist Zheng and Chen Yan, a local gujun player to develop both projects. Our gatherings resulted in questions from villagers and neighbouring stallholders keen to share experiences/suggestions, plus family and friends joined in the resourceful sewing, carving and designing of packaging. The project translated small-scale production and identity through process.