Beijing can be quite enchanting at times, I must say. Last May, the Spittoon Literary Collective celebrated its tenth anniversary with an exciting gathering at Celestial. The event featured numerous cherished members performing, including British editor Jessica Medhurst. That evening, both of us shared our readings, referencing the vintage Chinese photography currently accessible in two significant ways. One is Beijing Silvermine (@beijing_silvermine on Instagram), an archive of discarded 35-mm negatives collected with care by French artist Thomas Sauvin starting in 2009: a fantastic collection that spans from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s. The other comes from the extraordinary experience offered by sellers in the used book section of Panjiayuan Market, Beijing's largest flea market and one of the largest in China.
During the celebration, Jessica and I connected over our shared passion for Panjiayuan… Digging through dusty piles! Discovering one, two, or even dozens of precious old photographs! Bargaining! With beers in hand, we even dreamed big: wouldn’t it be wonderful if we embarked on our own vintage photography project?
Indeed, this is the magic of Beijing for artists and creatives. As it turns out, Jessica and I were able to turn our dreams into reality simply by visiting Panjiayuan before collaborating with a select group of poets from both China and abroad. Fall is here, dear reader, and for us, it's time to head back to school with a truly unique project that will debut on Tuesday, September 23, at 125 Dongsi Bei Dajie, known as self coffee during the day and Golden Weasel at night.
The project is titled (re)claimed: flotsam photographs & new retellings, and we're excited to share it with the Beijing community. I've taken on the roles of English translator, designer, and zine-maker, giving me the opportunity to see Jessica bring her enthusiasm as co-curator to life. Together, we've worked alongside our talented group of poets, and now, as a humble journalist, I’m sitting down with Jessica for a conversation to give you a glimpse into this thrilling showcase.
Hi, Jessica! I provided some background on our brainstorming session, but I’d love for you to explain the purpose of this project. There’s more to (re)claimed than meets the eye… Absolutely, this is a distinctive photography exhibition, particularly because the images are personal snapshots taken by unknown photographers. These photographs have been discarded or sold by their original owners, and now anyone can sift through them at Panjiayuan or purchase one for a few kuai, which means they lack the typical “art” characteristics. Since I began collecting them, I’ve been intrigued by the various kinds of value they hold and can hold, but it felt somewhat clichéd to simply view them as “treasures” and us as their rescuers.
It’s all too easy to become nostalgic about printed photos, and as foreigners, there's an added risk in potentially appropriating these images by making claims about them. Thus, we aimed to create (re)claimed as a thoughtful and open dialogue regarding the question of value by assembling this photographic flotsam into a creative afterlife and inviting new narratives through poetry in both English and Chinese.
Yes, that is indeed the essence behind it. Early on, we recognized the need for a balanced representation of voices in this initiative to get it right. We’ve included some incredible Chinese poets, whose work I hope to have translated effectively into English, while Dong Ying has excellently translated our English poets into Chinese. Would you like to elaborate on the significance of including Chinese voices equally in this project?
Yes, that’s central to the project, without a doubt. We are fortunate to feature Chinese poets writing in both languages at the exhibition. One of my favorite moments was reading all twelve poems and noticing connections blossoming between different writers and languages, even among those who had chosen very different images. This convinced us to translate the poems for the zine so that everyone could share that experience, regardless of whether they read Chinese or English. It was a daunting addition to the project, but you and Ying have achieved remarkable work with the translations, and it has been a joy to witness the authors' reactions.
Speaking of the poets, tell us more about them. I know (re)claimed wouldn’t be complete without their contributions. Zuo Fei (昨非) and David Harrison Horton are among our most seasoned and widely published poets, but we also have newer voices like Marco Lin, who is just starting out, and Sophie Wang, who is an established writer in Chinese but may be new to some of our audience. Fang Miaofang (方妙红), Shimmer Green, and Wu Xingyun (巫行云) round out the Chinese-language lineup, and we welcome familiar Spittoon favorites Feniá G, James Bradley, Abigail Weathers, and Sara
It's incredible how much a few hours of sleep, a shower, and a substantial breakfast can lift a person's spirits. I'm feeling positive and full of affection. I'm currently at the airport, at my gate, and I have a fresh sense of confidence.
A lengthy and demanding flight itinerary.
.jpg)
In the coming days, there's a week dedicated to the Negroni, the opening of an exhibition, shadow puppetry performances, and a variety of 10-minute plays.
The hybrid project highlights innovative teamwork at Self Coffee x Golden Weasel.