Guangzhen Zhou on fri 25 jul 08
Life and Art in Red China and Purple China
By Guangzhen Zhou
=20
As we approach the 2008 Beijing Olympics=2C China has been a hot topic in w=
estern media lately. But=2C some westerners only remember what they learned=
of China during the Cold War and do not know the difference between the Re=
d China of the past and the Purple China today. Purple=2C the color that re=
sults when hot red and cold blue are mixed together=2C has always meant nob=
ility and respectability. The Red China of Iron Curtain is no longer exists=
today.
=20
I was born in Shanghai=2C China to a =93black family=94 or so-called anti-r=
evolutionary family in 1953. My father and my two uncles all committed suic=
ide between late 1950=92s and early 1970=92s (one uncle from my mother=92s =
side and the other from my father=92s side. Click http://chineseclayart.com=
/mall/c110/s25729/mystory.asp for the whole story). It is hard to believe t=
hat the country changed so much and so quickly during the past 30 years. To=
day=2C I am in full support of China.
=20
When I left China in 1989=2C there were no subways and no high-rise buildin=
gs in Shanghai. There was one=2C six-mile-long highway northwest of Shangha=
i. That was the only highway in China at that time. Today=2C high-rise buil=
dings and the highways are almost everywhere.=20
=20
Mao Ze-dong took over mainland China in 1949. But Mao=92s communism was a u=
topian ideal that disappeared gradually after the death of Mao in 1976. Whe=
n Deng Xiao-ping took over the leadership in 1978=2C the re-form and open-d=
oor policy started. The Chinese government has focused on economic issues i=
nstead of politics. China has started to merge into the international world=
.=20
=20
During the Mao regime of Red China=2C most of the government officials had =
a military background=3B today=2C almost all of the high ranking official h=
old a university degree. Many have specialties in professional fields.=20
=20
During that time=2C the proletariat was on the stage and capitalism was cri=
ticized. Everyone was assigned to his or her job by the government no matte=
r what their personal desires. People were assigned housing in which to liv=
e=2C with no personal choices. All salaries were the same=2C from sanitatio=
n workers to medical doctors=3B from porters to engineers. Every family suf=
fered economic difficulties. Today=2C people can change their jobs=2C run t=
heir own business=2C invest in and talk about the stock market=2C and buy t=
heir own houses. Some ordinary people are becoming billionaires.=20
=20
During that time=2C the basic supplies for life were in short supply. Food=
=2C clothes and other products were rationed and=2C bought with money and s=
pecial coupons. People of all ages had to wear a green military uniform. Yo=
ung girls were not allowed to have long hair or wear skirts. Today=2C China=
has become the manufacturer for the whole world. On the streets of any cit=
y you can see people dressed in clothes of rainbow colors=2C tank tops and =
shorts=2C mini-skirts=2C blue jeans=2C name brand suits=2C ties and dresses=
.=20
=20
During that time=2C bikes or buses were the only choices for everyday commu=
ting=3B today=2C private cars=2C taxis and many other forms of public trans=
portation are everywhere. Subways have been built in some major cities.
=20
During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)=2C Chinese artists were sent to =
the countryside for re-education. They were not able to create art=3B if t=
hey did they could be persecuted for political reasons. Even the artists of=
the propaganda posters were not allowed to sign their names to their work.=
Individualism was forbidden. Many artists died due to political persecutio=
n distorting their lives.=20
=20
During that time=2C western art images=2C art books and magazines could not=
be imported into Red China=2C because they belonged to Capitalism or repre=
sented the Western cultural invasion. Art was the political propaganda tool=
of Communism with images portraying Chinese workers=2C peasants and soldie=
rs=2C or the communist leaders. Even during the early of 1980=92s when I wa=
s working in an arts and crafts factory in Shanghai=2C one of my colleagues=
was put in a jail for over one month because he did nude drawings at home.=
Until the mid-1980=92s there were no solo art exhibitions allowed in the c=
ountry.
=20
Today=2C internet has been connected to the whole world include China. Boei=
ng airplanes are flying in the sky all over that country. People are able t=
o see McDonald=2C KFC=2C Coca Cola=2C and Wal-Mart in many cities. Also=2C =
American automobiles=2C movies=2C music and many other products are everywh=
ere in China. The western cultural products have a deep influence on the th=
oughts of China=92s younger generations. If you visit =93798 Art Zone=94 in=
Beijing=2C you can see Chinese artists using a variety of styles just like=
the western artists=2C from ironic paintings to avant-garde performance ar=
t. Many of China=92s contemporary art works have been collected by art muse=
ums around the world.
=20
During that time=2C in the ceramic teapot making town of Yixing=2C teapot m=
asters were making low quality teapots for everyday use=2C meant only to be=
utilized by ordinary=2C working-class people. But today=2C many teapots ar=
e sold for over ten thousand US dollars around the world. The teapot master=
s have become rich during the past two decades. Many of the Yixing artisans=
own home-based studios with impressive showrooms. Some of them own factori=
es where they mass produce commissioned or commercial teapots.
=20
During the SARS epidemic of spring 2003=2C China was reported as a ghost co=
untry by western news media. On April 6=2C 2003=2C I boarded a United Airli=
nes flight from San Francisco to Shanghai. I saw less than twenty passenger=
s on the airplane=2C when it was equipped with 347 seats.
=20
111 people died from SARS in China=2C which had a population of 1.3 billion=
at the time. There is about 43=2C000 deaths in car accidents in the US ea=
ch year despite their much smaller population. Why are people so scared abo=
ut disease in China=2C but are still driving their cars on the streets ever=
yday? During the time of globalization=2C misunderstandings between Chinese=
and Americans have hurt both sides.=20
=20
Note: I have been leading the tours of =93Ceramic China=94 since 1998. On t=
hese tours=2C I have spoken of many things that compare =93Red China=94 and=
=93Purple China=94. This is the summary of my speech for this topic. I am =
a person who has experienced both periods in China. Comments are very welco=
me. Please contact me at ChineseClayArt@hotmail.com.=20
=20
2008/07/25
=20
=20
Guangzhen "Po" ZhouChinese Clay Art Corp. / ClayGroundClay Art Supplies and=
Studio1155 S. De Anza Blvd. San Jose=2C CA 95129Mailling address:PO Box 17=
33=2C Cupertino=2C CA 95015Tel. 408-343-3919=2C Fax. 408-343-0117www.Chines=
eClayArt.com=2C ChineseClayArt@hotmail.comArt Tools are Part of Art Works.=
Terrance(Terry)&FrancineLazaroff on sat 26 jul 08
Guangzhen Zhou;
Your history touched me so. China has had some hard times but the p=
eople=20
have survived.
I have been fortunate to travel the world and I have never met people=
so=20
optimistic as those I lived with in China.
My only hope is that the Chinese government continues its policy of=
=20
transparency and that it assess the need for some social policies tha=
t=20
protect those who have not been fortunate enough to benefit from the=
=20
enormous growth that has happened during the past twenty years. I al=
so hope=20
that they are careful not to let the class system, once again, take o=
ver the=20
riches of the country.
Mao and his movement may not have served the country as well as they =
should=20
have but they did lead it from the oppression of the colonial states =
and the=20
terrible hunger, slavery and inequality of the feudal system. The co=
untry=20
had to renew itself and much like a young person learning about life;=
it=20
did many stupid and bad things.
Today, China's leaders are faced with the greatest challenge to confr=
ont the=20
country in all it's history. They will have to balance their power w=
ith the=20
will of the people. They will not be able to hide the truth and in t=
urn=20
will have to prove to the people and the world that their system of=
=20
government is workable, tolerant, and understanding of the individual=
. They=20
will have to ensure that government employees and elected representat=
ives=20
are educated in ethics and strong leadership training in compassion =
and=20
understanding for the needs of their charges.
China will have work out the difficulties facing the manufacturing se=
ctor in=20
terms of pollution. It must be prudent on the use of crop producing l=
ands=20
and care for the rivers and lakes and most of all ensure everyone and=
their=20
families has an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of the remarkable g=
rowth.
China in the past provided a food distribution system that was part o=
f the=20
100mile radius concept. It now has become an importing nation of foo=
d.=20
China must maintain its ability to provide for itself.
I asked one government official why they were so adamant about destro=
ying=20
the nostalgic hotongs and old quarters Beijing and Shanghai and I was=
told=20
that the people of China wanted to enjoy a similar comfortable life t=
hat we,=20
in the west, enjoy. The only way to do that was to destroy the old a=
nd=20
build new. I only hope the resettlement of those who occupy the old =
are not=20
left without in the new.
I commend you for your efforts to promote China to the global populat=
ion and=20
to bring the outside world into view of the Chinese people. Your ef=
forts=20
will assist the changes needed to ensure that the people of China wil=
l have=20
the opportunity to gain from their work and toil. You are a part of =
the=20
East meets West success story.
My personal feelings as I prepare to return to my Chinese family in=
=20
Jingdezhen.
Terrance
Be sure to visit Terry's website.
http://clayart.ca/
----- Original Message -----=20
=46rom: "Guangzhen Zhou"
To:
Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2008 2:02 AM
Subject: Red and Purple China
Life and Art in Red China and Purple China
By Guangzhen Zhou
As we approach the 2008 Beijing Olympics, China has been a hot topic =
in=20
western media lately. But, some westerners only remember what they le=
arned=20
of China during the Cold War and do not know the difference between t=
he Red=20
China of the past and the Purple China today. Purple, the color that =
results=20
when hot red and cold blue are mixed together, has always meant nobil=
ity and=20
respectability. The Red China of Iron Curtain is no longer exists tod=
ay.
I was born in Shanghai, China to a =93black family=94 or so-called=
=20
anti-revolutionary family in 1953. My father and my two uncles all co=
mmitted=20
suicide between late 1950=92s and early 1970=92s (one uncle from my m=
other=92s=20
side and the other from my father=92s side. Click=20
http://chineseclayart.com/mall/c110/s25729/mystory.asp for the whole =
story).=20
It is hard to believe that the country changed so much and so quickly=
during=20
the past 30 years. Today, I am in full support of China.
When I left China in 1989, there were no subways and no high-rise bui=
ldings=20
in Shanghai. There was one, six-mile-long highway northwest of Shangh=
ai.=20
That was the only highway in China at that time. Today, high-rise bui=
ldings=20
and the highways are almost everywhere.
Mao Ze-dong took over mainland China in 1949. But Mao=92s communism w=
as a=20
utopian ideal that disappeared gradually after the death of Mao in 19=
76.=20
When Deng Xiao-ping took over the leadership in 1978, the re-form and=
=20
open-door policy started. The Chinese government has focused on econo=
mic=20
issues instead of politics. China has started to merge into the=20
international world.
During the Mao regime of Red China, most of the government officials =
had a=20
military background; today, almost all of the high ranking official h=
old a=20
university degree. Many have specialties in professional fields.
During that time, the proletariat was on the stage and capitalism was=
=20
criticized. Everyone was assigned to his or her job by the government=
no=20
matter what their personal desires. People were assigned housing in w=
hich to=20
live, with no personal choices. All salaries were the same, from sani=
tation=20
workers to medical doctors; from porters to engineers. Every family s=
uffered=20
economic difficulties. Today, people can change their jobs, run their=
own=20
business, invest in and talk about the stock market, and buy their ow=
n=20
houses. Some ordinary people are becoming billionaires.
During that time, the basic supplies for life were in short supply. F=
ood,=20
clothes and other products were rationed and, bought with money and s=
pecial=20
coupons. People of all ages had to wear a green military uniform. You=
ng=20
girls were not allowed to have long hair or wear skirts. Today, China=
has=20
become the manufacturer for the whole world. On the streets of any ci=
ty you=20
can see people dressed in clothes of rainbow colors, tank tops and sh=
orts,=20
mini-skirts, blue jeans, name brand suits, ties and dresses.
During that time, bikes or buses were the only choices for everyday=
=20
commuting; today, private cars, taxis and many other forms of public=
=20
transportation are everywhere. Subways have been built in some major=
=20
cities.
During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), Chinese artists were sent=
to the=20
countryside for re-education. They were not able to create art; if t=
hey did=20
they could be persecuted for political reasons. Even the artists of t=
he=20
propaganda posters were not allowed to sign their names to their work=
.=20
Individualism was forbidden. Many artists died due to political perse=
cution=20
distorting their lives.
During that time, western art images, art books and magazines could n=
ot be=20
imported into Red China, because they belonged to Capitalism or repre=
sented=20
the Western cultural invasion. Art was the political propaganda tool =
of=20
Communism with images portraying Chinese workers, peasants and soldie=
rs, or=20
the communist leaders. Even during the early of 1980=92s when I was w=
orking in=20
an arts and crafts factory in Shanghai, one of my colleagues was put =
in a=20
jail for over one month because he did nude drawings at home. Until t=
he=20
mid-1980=92s there were no solo art exhibitions allowed in the countr=
y.
Today, internet has been connected to the whole world include China. =
Boeing=20
airplanes are flying in the sky all over that country. People are abl=
e to=20
see McDonald, KFC, Coca Cola, and Wal-Mart in many cities. Also, Amer=
ican=20
automobiles, movies, music and many other products are everywhere in =
China.=20
The western cultural products have a deep influence on the thoughts o=
f China=92s=20
younger generations. If you visit =93798 Art Zone=94 in Beijing, you =
can see=20
Chinese artists using a variety of styles just like the western artis=
ts,=20
=66rom ironic paintings to avant-garde performance art. Many of China=
=92s=20
contemporary art works have been collected by art museums around the =
world.
During that time, in the ceramic teapot making town of Yixing, teapot=
=20
masters were making low quality teapots for everyday use, meant only =
to be=20
utilized by ordinary, working-class people. But today, many teapots a=
re sold=20
for over ten thousand US dollars around the world. The teapot masters=
have=20
become rich during the past two decades. Many of the Yixing artisans =
own=20
home-based studios with impressive showrooms. Some of them own factor=
ies=20
where they mass produce commissioned or commercial teapots.
During the SARS epidemic of spring 2003, China was reported as a ghos=
t=20
country by western news media. On April 6, 2003, I boarded a United A=
irlines=20
flight from San Francisco to Shanghai. I saw less than twenty passeng=
ers on=20
the airplane, when it was equipped with 347 seats.
111 people died from SARS in China, which had a population of 1.3 bil=
lion at=20
the time. There is about 43,000 deaths in car accidents in the US ea=
ch year=20
despite their much smaller population. Why are people so scared about=
=20
disease in China, but are still driving their cars on the streets eve=
ryday?=20
During the time of globalization, misunderstandings between Chinese a=
nd=20
Americans have hurt both sides.
Note: I have been leading the tours of =93Ceramic China=94 since 1998=
. On these=20
tours, I have spoken of many things that compare =93Red China=94 and =
=93Purple=20
China=94. This is the summary of my speech for this topic. I am a per=
son who=20
has experienced both periods in China. Comments are very welcome. Ple=
ase=20
contact me at ChineseClayArt@hotmail.com.
2008/07/25
Guangzhen "Po" ZhouChinese Clay Art Corp. / ClayGroundClay Art Suppli=
es and=20
Studio1155 S. De Anza Blvd. San Jose, CA 95129Mailling address:PO Box=
1733,=20
Cupertino, CA 95015Tel. 408-343-3919, Fax.=20
408-343-0117www.ChineseClayArt.com, ChineseClayArt@hotmail.comArt Too=
ls are=20
Part of Art Works.=3D=20
James and Sherron Bowen on sun 27 jul 08
Terrance,
Excellent post. Many thanks.
"They will not be able to hide the truth and in turn will have to prove to
the people...."
That's what has changed since the invention of the VCR and others forms of
rapid portable communications. You cannot hide the facts for very long from
people who are hungry for factual information. That's the trouble here.
There aren't enough people hungry for the facts.
Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "Terrance(Terry)&FrancineLazaroff"
To:
Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2008 1:24 PM
Subject: Re: Red and Purple China
Guangzhen Zhou;
Your history touched me so. China has had some hard times but the people
have survived.
James and Sherron Bowen on mon 28 jul 08
People in the former Soviet Union and other authoritarian regimes were able
to use the VCR to disseminate alternate points of view through back
channels. Folks who choose to be informed today are doing the same, by using
other sources than the mainstream media.
Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lee Love"
To:
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 6:50 PM
Subject: Re: Red and Purple China
> On Sun, Jul 27, 2008 at 10:32 AM, James and Sherron Bowen
> wrote:
>
>>
>> That's what has changed since the invention of the VCR and others forms
>> of
>> rapid portable communications.
>
> Authoritarian regimes and corporations can still stifle news of what
> is going on. The news looks completely different in Japan, compared
> to news in the USA. And we hear very little about the communist
> crack down in Tibet.
>
> Basically in our society, we ended up with Brave New World and
> not 1984. Soma, not Big Brother.
> --
> Lee Love in Minneapolis
> http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
> http://claycraft.blogspot.com/
>
> "Let the beauty we love be what we do.
> There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground." --Rumi
>
>
Jeannean Hibbitts on mon 28 jul 08
I went on one of Po's tours to China last year, and wish I could afford to
go again soon. It's an amazing country. I haven't yet put my finger on what
is so compelling about China, but I loved it. And Po is the perfect host.
And the fact that his tours are ceramics oriented made it that much more an
exciting experience. If you've ever thought about going, go! It will change
your life. (Travel does change our lives, doesn't it? That's why to me, it's
not an expenditure, it's an investment.)
My two cents worth.
Jeannean
Spider Hole Pottery
Astoria, Oregon
... where the skies are cerulean blue today and I'm itching to be outside.
This is a day for a walk in the woods, or to sit on the beach watching the
waves, or to relax under the Japanese maple in my backyard and watch the
kittens play (they know how to enjoy summer!). Sigh.
Lee Love on mon 28 jul 08
On Sun, Jul 27, 2008 at 10:32 AM, James and Sherron Bowen
wrote:
>
> That's what has changed since the invention of the VCR and others forms of
> rapid portable communications.
Authoritarian regimes and corporations can still stifle news of what
is going on. The news looks completely different in Japan, compared
to news in the USA. And we hear very little about the communist
crack down in Tibet.
Basically in our society, we ended up with Brave New World and
not 1984. Soma, not Big Brother.
--
Lee Love in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
http://claycraft.blogspot.com/
"Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground." --Rumi
Curtis Benzle on tue 29 jul 08
HI Jeannean:
I'm heading to Salem this weekend. Is your pottery anywhere near?
Curt
benzleporcelain.com
On Mon, Jul 28, 2008 at 11:52 AM, Jeannean Hibbitts wrote:
> I went on one of Po's tours to China last year, and wish I could afford to
> go again soon. It's an amazing country. I haven't yet put my finger on what
> is so compelling about China, but I loved it. And Po is the perfect host.
> And the fact that his tours are ceramics oriented made it that much more an
> exciting experience. If you've ever thought about going, go! It will change
> your life. (Travel does change our lives, doesn't it? That's why to me,
> it's
> not an expenditure, it's an investment.)
>
> My two cents worth.
>
> Jeannean
> Spider Hole Pottery
> Astoria, Oregon
> ... where the skies are cerulean blue today and I'm itching to be outside.
> This is a day for a walk in the woods, or to sit on the beach watching the
> waves, or to relax under the Japanese maple in my backyard and watch the
> kittens play (they know how to enjoy summer!). Sigh.
>
James and Sherron Bowen on wed 30 jul 08
In China that was then. the VCR had a real impact on the Soviet bloc
JB
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lee Love"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 11:49 PM
Subject: Re: Red and Purple China
> On Mon, Jul 28, 2008 at 10:45 PM, James and Sherron Bowen
> wrote:
> sing
>> other sources than the mainstream media.
>> Jim
>>
>
> I was just listening to an exchange student who was in China about
> 2000 on NPR. She said that very few people learn the truth about the
> outside world. She said most people did not know that China was
> disqualified from hosting the 2000 Olympics because of human rights
> violations. She only knew because of a journalist friends research
> on the web.
>
> We should not over-estimate the world knowledge of the average Chinese.
> --
> Lee Love in Minneapolis
> http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
> http://claycraft.blogspot.com/
>
> "Let the beauty we love be what we do.
> There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground." --Rumi
>
>
Lee Love on wed 30 jul 08
On Mon, Jul 28, 2008 at 10:45 PM, James and Sherron Bowen
wrote:
sing
> other sources than the mainstream media.
> Jim
>
I was just listening to an exchange student who was in China about
2000 on NPR. She said that very few people learn the truth about the
outside world. She said most people did not know that China was
disqualified from hosting the 2000 Olympics because of human rights
violations. She only knew because of a journalist friends research
on the web.
We should not over-estimate the world knowledge of the average Chinese.
--
Lee Love in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
http://claycraft.blogspot.com/
"Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground." --Rumi
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