Enjoy music and tipsy time!CHINA HUANGJIU TOWN ART SEASON concluded
The month-long CHINA Huangjiu (Huangjiu, literally meaning yellow wine brewed from rice) Town International Art Season has successfully come to a close.
The closing ceremony of the Art Season lasted for the whole day, from the early morning when the sun was rising, to late at night, with continuous music. In between, there were activities such as Tea-whisking, Fan Painting, documentary screenings, and artistic discussions, providing a rich and elegant atmosphere, truly embodying the spirit of Chinese literati.
The combination of traditional Chinese operas and modern music was not only exceptional but also cool. Whether it was about fusion or contrast, it offered a refreshing experience to the audience. In terms of modern music selection, folk music was the primary focus, not only because of the folk-like qualities of Shaoxing but also because it reflected the original intention of Huangjiu Town to contemplate life through music.
This time, Huangjiu Town continued to embrace Chinese traditional culture and welcomed young people. From day to night, the music never ceased!
Music
From day to night, the music never ceased.
Under the clear autumn sky, more than 40 acres of vibrant flowers bloomed passionately, dotting the lush green foliage, creating the feeling of entering a fairy tale world. On the north side, there was a camping lawn for performances of traditional dramas and modern music. In the traditional drama segment, renowned Chinese actresses like Yao Baiqing, Shi Jiejing, and Li Min, delivered heartfelt performances. In the modern music segment, artists such as Wa Yina, Daniu, Si Junzi, Sphinx, Yizhihua, and Li Chuxing all performed live. They interpreted classics through dramas and expressed the essence of Huangjiu, art, and life through music. The audience simply needed to immerse themselves in it.
The highlight of the Shaoxing Music Festival was the large screen, especially during the opera highlights. It was a spectacular and innovative approach to present traditional dramas that had never been imagined before.
Shaoxing opera is known for being a dynamic genre in the world of traditional Chinese theaters, often referred to as the "rock" among operas. In this festival, a lineup of renowned actors and actresses performed classic pieces such as “Double Guns: Lu Wenlong” “Yangmen female Generals (Night Patrol)” and “Sun Wukong Battles the Red Boy”. The large screen amplified their power and resonance, creating a highly immersive experience for the audience. Transitioning to Yue opera singing style, the large screen then showcased its elegance. It became evident that traditional theaters could also be highly appreciated.
The modern music in this festival mainly revolved around folk music, with the performance of Wa Yina, who provided not only a moment of relaxation for the weary but also embodied the spirit of Huangjiu: to have a grand dream and live a slightly intoxicated life.
Since the Huangjiu Art Season, “Hometown Harmony in Huangjiu Town” has become the signature of Huangjiu Town. Music can be heard anytime and anywhere, no longer being confined to theaters. Guitar performances, band shows, jazz trios and traditional Chinese folk music performances took turns. Opening up the sense of hearing is the key to perceiving everything.
Music is a down-to-earth way to easily integrate into the lives of ordinary people and also a way to echo the local community. Music and the town exactly serve as the kind of relaxation of Chinese people, or else, how could “QushuiLiuahang”(a winding stream party: the participants wait by a winding stream and compose poems before their cups full of Huangjiu float down to reach them) happened in Shaoxing?
“Rediscovering Hometown: Huangjiu Town in Shaoxing” has been released.
When the Huangjiu Town Art Season was launched, it was mentioned that Chen Hongyu and his team would make the third installment of "Rediscovering Hometown" in Shaoxing. During the art season, Chen Hongyu and his friends visited Huangjiu Town to enjoy the local wine and explore the culture behind. They sang and composed songs as well. This music collection featured collaborations with numerous talented musicians and producers, including Deng Jianchao, Wo Zhi Chi Wan Fan, Zhang Xi, Menmen Blur, Ningxia, Chi Mu, Yuan Zhipeng, and others. Together with Chen Hongyu, they use music to vividly describe the culture of Shaoxing, sharing their hometown sentiments and travelling memories.
Here's a spoiler: one of the songs “Where Does the Guest Come From” provides a portrayal of Jiangnan, awakening audiences’memories and imagination. One of the lyrics in the song goes like this:
“Sang, firewood, pottery pots / Busy at cooking beside the stove with reed fans,
Pouring two or three cups of Huangjiu / Unaware of the world's noise,
Morning mist is pure and vast.”
For the people of the south of China, the dream of Jiangnan is a memory from childhood. For those from the north of China, their Jiangnan dream is often shaped by literary works, like Bai Juyi's poem “Recollections of Jiangnan”, Yu Qiuyu's prose “Jiangnan Small Town”, Dai Wangshu's poem “A Lane in the Rain” as well as songs like JJ Lin's “Jiangnan”. However, the “Jiangnan dream” is the younger generation’s most direct and personal connection to Jiangnan.
Another song we love was “Mi Jiu” which offered a different perspective on the Huangjiu Town:
“Live (drink) for another thousand years / Witness the moon changing as it was before,
Fill up a bowl with moonlight, and return to the mortal world,
Live for another thousand years / Witness the impermanence of the world,
In the end, it's just a casual drinking of a few cups.”
“Deep in the Alley” sings about the lingering aroma of Huangjiu in the damp air of Shaoxing's Huangjiu Town. The old stone slabs trap memories throughout the seasons, and the misty rain falls at the dimly lit corners. The song by the water's edge always tells the story of the bygone times:
“Who is singing this ‘water ballad’ ?
Who is searching for the people where lantern light is dimly shed?”
“Rediscovering Hometown: Huangjiu Town in Shaoxing” EP1 was released on Netease Cloud Music on October 29th. Currently, three songs are available. For those who want to listen to it in detail, please scan the QR code on the poster above or search for the songs on Netease Cloud Music.
Yaji: Chinese holidays, the gathering of Chinese literati
Confucius once said, “The superior man on grounds of culture meets with his friends.” Assemble of elegant men of letters is the most distinguished part in the art history of Chinese culture. The well-known Lanting Yaji happened in Shaoxing.
The Yaji section in this musical festival manifested the lifestyle of Chinese people.
Morning: The Eight Brocades
Chinese people emphasize getting rid of the old and welcoming the new. Therefore , one should get up early in the morning to inhale the “Yangqi”(sunlight). At the square, people wearing loose attire breathed in and out, squated and rose, starting a beautiful day. For this purpose, the Huangjiu Town Art Season invited Master Zi’an, a practitioner and instructor of yoga, traditional Chinese medicine, Daoism, and Zen culture. He explained what seemed like simple movements so that people could understand how to exert effort and remember the Eight Brocades. This daily practice helps people with health maintenance and caring for one’s physical well-being.
Afternoon: Tea-whisking (dian cha)
The Chinese health-nurturing practices consist of waking up early and resting after the lunch. In line with this practice, Yaji held a Tea-whisking activity in the teahouse of Tongtai Art Centre in T Space in the afternoon.
This was a small courtyard in the ancient town, adorned with a themed art exhibition featuring “Xiangxuejiuqu”. The deep end of the courtyard was filled with the fragrance of tea. People could feel a sense of leisure and relaxation through the activity and get rid of their fickleness.
Nightfull: Fan Painting
The day before the festival, “Flower Street Wen Fang” held a fan painting activity.
“Flower Street Wen Fang” settled very early in the yellow wine town, next to which is a café. Walking across the flagging, one would encouter a small bar. People could enjoy painting beside the window of Wen Fang in the morning, when the passed passengers may become the characters in the picture.
Wang Zhen, the organizer, favors painting, running, and is actively involved in charitable activities. He often teaches people to paint in the Wen Fang. This time, Mr. Wang Zhen taught people to paint Tuan Fans, also known as palace fans or silk fans, and to convey their wishes for reunion, friendliness and auspiciousness.
Art Forum
Screening of the documentary "Two Golden Lions" and directors’discussion:
“Two Golden Lions” is a homophonic reference to “Two Zhejiang Gold and Stone Records”. Director Lu Yi used Ruan Yuan’s “Two Zhejiang Gold and Stone Records” written during the Qing Dynasty and focused on the mountains around West Lake in Hangzhou, as the basis for the documentary. It records the two-year-long journey of a group of friends who searched for inscriptions and stones in the mountains. During the Huangjiu Art Season, “Two Golden Lions” was screened at T SPACE. At the closing ceremony, the director Lu Yi, curator Wang Dan, the media, and experts organized a post-screening discussion.
Lu Yi’s participation in the Huangjiu Art Season was driven by the concepts of “hometown” and “locality”. Similar to what Huangjiu Town has been exploring, “Two Golden Lions” is also redefining “local culture”. It is based on the cliff inscriptions in Hangzhou, connecting the disconnected culture of the past and the present, and contemplating how to excavate local culture.
During the discussion, Lu Yi mentioned that the incomplete information caused by natural weathering or human carving were both the current appearance presented by the mountains. The silence of the mountains allowed them to accommodate and blend different thoughts, becoming a common object of contemplation and a source of knowledge and power.
How far are we from the real history? This question mirrors our contemplation of Huangjiu and the Huangjiu town.
The love of hometown is not a hollow concept, but is composed of love of mountains, water and people in the hometown. “Two Golden Lions” also gives us an inspiration on how to create a strong connection with the city and how to love our own hometown.
The closing ceremony is merely a concept of time, meaning that the art season has come to an end. However, the “closing” is also the “beginning” in one sense. The essence of the closing ceremony is the beginning of the encounter with music, art and pleasant interation.
We sincerely look forward to next year’s Shaoxing Yellow Wine Town Art Season. Be there or be square!