<essays> Real Cultural Chaos Cities in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China 2025-1
Chisai has been to Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China for the first time in five years! And she tells you the report in four parts in a series!
In the previous article, I realized that the current culture scene in Hong Kong is chaotic. At that time, I worked as an interpreter there and I bought a plane ticket to Hong Kong because there was an e-mail saying that the LCC would have a serendipitous sale, just like that unexpected cash!
And just like that, I was flying to Hong Kong!
When I arrived at Hong Kong, I could not use the SIM card I bought in Japan! So, I bought it again at Hong Kong Airport. When I asked the staff, it needed passport registration for use in China, Seriously?! This trouble caused me to leave the airport late, and I lost my appointment to have dinner with Hong Kongers I met at that chaotic event (referring back to the previous article!). I went to the hotel, filled with regret.
Most of my Hong Kong friends have moved abroad in the last five years when I didn't go. And this trip, both restaurants, hotels and any places, I often heard Mandarin. When I asked anyone something, I found myself using Chinese instead of English.
The purpose of this trip is to go to Shenzhen, China, rather than to go to Art Basel Hong Kong. Because as a Japanese, I can go to China without a visa until the end of this year. I had a lot of friends in Shenzhen, like artists and curators with a hope to see them before my own passing. But I met someone in Hong Kong. Thanks to a series I had in the Hong Kong art magazine "Mei Shi Jia" last year.
The next day, I met Mr. Jin, who introduced me to the magazine, and we had lunch together. He is a freelance editor and is now editing five or six books about culture. Hearing about all this, I couldn't help but feel envious of his enthusiasm and the vibrant environment in Hong Kong.
We went to the editorial department of the magazine. The publishing house building had editorial department, galleries, art school and bookstores. After greeting, I spoke in Chinese with the editor-in-chief and the editor I had been communicating last year. In my series, magazine wanted to know about the Japanese art scene, but all I delivered were critical pieces like, 'Japan? Still the same boring place as 10 years ago!" They said, "That’s surprising for us, but it is interesting".
And the editor showed me around the building, and our chat naturally led us to a nearby gallery.
(Continued next time, Zoi Gin!, see you again in Cantonese)
～～～<essays> Chaotic Hong Kong Crafts (+α) in Kyoto 2025
<essays> Real Cultural Chaos Cities in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China 2025-2～～～