interview | kunming’s shxpir, the dancer, choreographer, designer, & fashion photographer ///

I met Yuxi / Kunming-native Shxpir (pronounced Shakespeare) when I decided to learn dancing in Yunnan (read more about this humbling experience here) – he was my instructor. In addition to being a designer and photographer, Shxpir is a trained / professional dancer and a choreographer. Through my dance lessons, we got to know each other quite well and it didn’t take long for me to understand how creatively talented he was.

Since graduating from the Yunnan Arts Institute in 2005 with a major in Computer Art Design, this “jack of all creative trades” explored many domains with his artistic energy and talent – a brief stint as an MC, ongoing dance / choreography projects, the co-founding of TV Design (an indie bag-design / production company) with his partner and friend You Cai (有才), and his latest passion: photography.

Last year, Shxpir moved to Shanghai looking for bigger opportunities and expanded horizons. We recently caught up with him to about his life and choices, wishes and hopes. See below for the resulting interview. Throughout the interview we’ve also shared a sampling of his photography. For more from Shxpir on NeochaEDGE, link here. /// MM

After graduating, it seems you explored many directions before coming back to what you do now. What did these experiences bring you, and why did you finally decide to refocus on photography and visual arts / graphic design?

OK, well, firstly, I didn’t graduate. I dropped out in my senior year. I really just couldn’t study anymore. I don’t think any kind of higher education can really satisfy me. The more I studied and the more I was in school, the more my thinking and ideas became confined and restricted. This is just me, I don’t think everyone should not study or go to school.

At that time, I was young and rigorous / restless, I wasn’t able to allow other people’s / teacher’s ideas direct or influence my thinking. Looking back on it now, yeah, it was a little foolish, but I definitely don’t regret it.

After leaving school, I was involved in all sorts of stuff ongoingly. I was doing contemporary art exhibitions, graphic design, different creative direction / strategy work, hell, I was even teaching breakdancing / b-boying. I’m all over the place, huh?

Why did I chose photography? Well, it’s kinda random. I started a bag design and production studio with a friend. When our products came out we wanted to do some advertisements. You know, just taking some photos of the bags and putting them into some sort of ad. I asked some photographer friends of mine to help out. However, I wasn’t too happy with the result. It just wasn’t what I wanted. This being the case, I decide to give it a go on my own. I used my old pocket digital camera (which was an RMB 800 Samsung) and took my first proper commercial / fashion photographs. The result was unexpectedly great. From looking at the photos / ads of our products, many people thought we were a foreign brand, or that we had taken photographs from the Internet and photoshoped our bags into them. Hahaha.

All of a sudden I was a fan of taking photographs. That’s how it all started. From that point on, I couldn’t stop taking photographs.

I don’t care if people say I’m not professional or lack proper skills, etc. Fuck ‘em. I believe in myself and that’s good enough for me.

Early on I made a trip to Shanghai to do some promotional stuff for our bags. After that trip and upon my return to Kunming, I was determined to focus on developing my fashion photography.

I look at all the domestic fashion photography and its all the same to me. It’s one big stereotype. I want to create something new and change the industry status quo. I think my past experiences doing so many different things have given me a unique taste for artistic aesthetics and beauty in photography.

“…I don’t care if people say I’m not professional or lack proper skills, etc.
Fuck ‘em. I believe in myself and that’s good enough for me…”

What other Chinese creatives / artists do you admire? Which of your peers inspires you?

No Chinese artists really impress me, not even a little. The only one worth mentioning is Chen Man (陈曼). A lot of people say she does most of her work is done in post production, blah, blah, blah, but look, even if that’s the case, that’s not easy to do and it’s art in and of itself – plus, she is doing it better than anyone in China. I admire her. But her style is not really to my tastes, her work is too feminine. I like stuff that is full of darkness, doom, and has a touch of evil, you know, ruthless kinda stuff. Chinese artists lack that kind of ruthless spirit in their hearts. However, as I see more and more young and emerging Chinese artists’ work, I have started to change my mind, just a little bit. They seem to be changing this in the local creative community.

Who inspires me? Of course it’s my friends. My b-boying / breakdancing and painter friends especially. I don’t know if its really because people from Yunnan are different or what, but I rarely come across other Chinese people in other places in China that can compare to the ruthless characters in my circle back home. They are all so enlightened, they know exactly what they want. Their taste for artistic aesthetics and beauty are so unique, so distinct, so powerful. I love them. They help me understand how to use my own strengths. I should thank them.

“…I like stuff that is full of darkness, doom, and has a touch of evil, you know,
ruthless kinda stuff. Chinese artists lack that kind of ruthless spirit in their hearts…”

Tell us about the creative community in Kunming. What does it have? What does it lack? What’s unique about it?

It seems a lot of Yunnan-based creatives / artists stay in Yunnan. Some famous, some not so famous. Everyday you’re able to get some sort of inspiration. There are all sorts of works being produced there in all sorts of artistic styles, but if one confines himself to just Kunming, what can that person really do? If you get more and more famous in Kunming, what will that amount to? You want to become a bandit or a gangster? Not me. I don’t want that. I left to try somewhere new.

But, Yunnan is really a unique place. The people are very open to new things. Very rarely do you come across lame people. This type of atmosphere gives opportunity and possibility to all sorts of creative culture.

You founded your own small company, TV Design, in Kunming. Why the sudden move to Shanghai? What is it that Kunming could not offer that made you prefer moving to Shanghai?

In Kunming, creative culture is still not very developed. The average local person there doesn’t really have a proper appreciate or concept of what is art or design. I wasn’t even able to sell the bags I designed. Customers only cared about production costs and buying our products for the cheapest price. They put zero value in the design / creative behind the products. It kinda hurt actually. Shanghai is at least a little better than Kunming in this regard. Also, consumer culture here is a much bigger deal, so that helps.

“…I don’t know if its really because people from Yunnan are different or what,
but I rarely come across other Chinese people in other places in China
that can compare to the ruthless characters in my circle back home.
They are all so enlightened, they know exactly what they want. Their taste for
artistic aesthetics and beauty are so unique, so distinct, so powerful. I love them.
They help me understand how to use my own strengths. I should thank them…”

Tell us about the creative community in Shanghai? How does it compare to Kunming or other cities in China?

Well, to be honest, I’m new to Shanghai and I haven’t really found a “circle” to run in yet. I don’t have too many friends in Shanghai here, so I’m not really in a position to judge the scene here.

I heard you recently had an exhibition (already!) in Shanghai. Tell us a bit more about it. How did it feel, will there be others? When?

Yeah. A few months ago in May I had dinner at some western restaurant that has a gallery space attached. [Editorial note: this restaurant / space is the now unfortunately closed Factory.] Totally coincidentally and luckily, I met the creative director and he took an interest in me and my work. He told me he wanted to do a free exhibition for my stuff at his space. I pulled in my Kunming friend Bunny, who is a wicked illustrator, as we have some photography and illustration pieces we collaborated on. Luckily she was going to be in Shanghai for a few months during that time. Anyway, we did the exhibit together. We didn’t really do anything to prepare for the exhibition, it was all pretty chill. In the end, it was successful beyond any of our expectations. Quite a few of our pieces sold. I heard the Unilever (China) CEO bought a couple pieces. We were quite happy about the whole thing.

“…it’s true the Chinese creative community is quite immature, but it’s also true
that most foreign creative communities are too mature. When little girls grow
up they become women, but after that they become an old women…”

About your artwork: what have you been creating lately? What is your principal source of inspiration on your latest pieces? What are you trying to express with your work?

I’m not too pleased with my work lately. Let’s not talk about it.

I want people who look at my work to see and feel fun and a certain kind of sparkle or shine. I’m not interested in creating some sort of ultimate expression of beautiful. I want fun, but unfortunately everything I’m shooting these days is so course and rough.

“…I want people who look at my work to see and feel fun and a certain kind of
sparkle or shine. I’m not interested in creating some sort of
ultimate expression of beautiful. I want fun…”

What single piece of your work are you most proud of? Why?

Up til now, none. I will forever bitterly despise my previous work. My stylist and make-up artist think I’m schizophrenic. When I get an idea before shooting I’m usually very excited. Sometimes so excited I can’t sleep. But as soon as the final piece is done and out, I start disliking it. As time goes by, I begin to hate it. As more times goes by, I begin to hate it even more. I hate that I created it and brought it into this world. It just becomes the antithesis of what I want to create and I move on to the next piece.

As a choreographer and dancer, but also as a visual artist, what kind of difficulties do you experience through competitions, shows, or when trying to share your work with the public?

When choreographing, the dancers are my tools, they become my paint brush. When I’m dancing, my body becomes a tool of my thinking and ideas. When I’m taking photographs, my camera, my models, my stylist, my make-up artist all become my tools.

“…I will forever bitterly despise my previous work. My stylist and make-up artist
think I’m schizophrenic. When I get an idea before shooting I’m usually
very excited. Sometimes so excited I can’t sleep. But as soon as the final piece
is done and out, I start disliking it. As time goes by, I begin to hate it.
As more times goes by, I begin to hate it even more. I hate that I created it and
brought it into this world. It just becomes the antithesis of what
I want to create and I move on to the next piece…”

What kind of dancing / choreographic work are you doing in Shanghai? Or plan to do?

In Shanghai, I haven’t really done much dancing. Mostly because I don’t have any friends to dance with, but I of course still really like dancing. Regarding any plans, hmm. Well, if there is a hip-hop crew that is interested in taking me on, I’d be happy to join for fun or do some choreographing.

What does creative / cultural youth (文艺青年) mean to you? Are you a creative / cultural youth？From what you have seen so far, what is your impression of Chinese creative / cultural youth in general? [Editor's note: the Chinese phrase 文艺青年 is quite difficult to properly translate into English, but it usually means the artsy / cultural / hipster-type. The "kind of person" that reads obscure books, watches obscure foreign films, dabbles in all things cultural, etc. If any readers have a proper, succinct English translation, please let us know.]

Chinese creative / cultural youth to me is a far-off concept. I try my best to stay away from that whole movement. These kids are just so soft. Too weak and feeble for me; too emotionally fragile. I’m just not that kind of person. Sorry.

Whatever you do, please don’t get all deep into all that “literature and the arts” shit with me. I’d much rather prefer to remain superficial.

In all of my life, I’ve probably only seen two “cultural / indie” films. All I can say is that all this creative / cultural shit makes me cringe. Many Chinese fashion photographers get caught up in it. It’s just too pure and simple. I’m the provocative and pornographic type. I like watching blockbusters. They inspire me more. Actually, to me, fashion photography is the same as pornography. Is it possible for people to get all dolled up and not attract sexual fantasies and daydreams from the opposite sex? Isn’t that the point of it all? Fashion is just foreplay and it’s not long before you’re both standing face to face naked.

“…Chinese creative / cultural youth to me is a far-off concept. I try my best to stay
away from that whole movement. These kids are just so soft. Too weak and feeble
for me; too emotionally fragile. I’m just not that kind of person. Sorry…whatever you do,
please don’t get all deep into all that “literature and the arts” shit with me.
I’d much rather prefer to remain superficial. All I can say is that all
this creative / cultural shit makes me cringe…“

In one sentence, how would you describe the Chinese creative community to someone that knows nothing about China – a foreigner perhaps?

It’s true the Chinese creative community is quite immature, but it’s also true that most foreign creative communities are too mature. When little girls grow up they become women, but after that they become an old women.

If you could, what would you change about the Chinese creative community?

I’m powerless as an individual, and also, I’m not too interested in meddling in such a task. I prefer to just be an outsider, a loner of sorts.

“…I’m the provocative and pornographic type. To me, fashion photography
is the same as pornography. Is it possible for people to get all dolled up and
not attract sexual fantasies and daydreams from the opposite sex? Isn’t that
the point of it all? Fashion is just foreplay and it’s not long before
you’re both standing face to face naked…”

In China now and according to your experience, what is the main difficulty young creatives may encounter when trying to share their work with the public? In your opinion, what could improve the current situation?

We had an exhibition called The Pussy Show, an English-language TV station in Shanghai interviewed us, but in the end didn’t air the interview. They just sent us a letter saying: Because the interview touched on reactionary and pornographic elements / topics, we were unable to air it on television.

This sentence alone can explain a lot of problems in China. There is no way to change this in the short term. And you wonder why many Chinese people have left China and gone abroad.

What are some of the misconceptions (if any) that mainstream Chinese culture / society have about the local creative community?

I don’t even know if the mainstream even thinks at all about the local creative industry, let alone what kind of misconceptions they might have. I don’t know and I don’t really care.

“…when choreographing, the dancers are my tools, they become my paint brush.
When I’m dancing, my body becomes a tool of my thinking and ideas.
When I’m taking photographs, my camera, my models, my stylist,
my make-up artist all become my tools…”

What are your thoughts on what the Chinese government has done (or can / should do) for the Chinese creative community?

Hahaha, forget about it. China is still trying to feed so many people – not everyone is full yet. Let the government save those people first. Artists and creatives will save themselves. Whatever you do, don’t vainly hope China can be like countries / societies in the West where people can just be artists / creatives without any constraints or social obligations / responsibilities. China is a developing country, keeping everyone fed is still the most important thing.

Where do you see yourself in five years? What are the projects that you would like to achieve?

Over the next five years I’ll be relying on photography to make a living. I have quite a few projects lined up in my notebook. They are all a lot of fun, but I need pretty serious financial and human resource backing to make them happen. Slowly but surely I’m sure I’ll find a way to bring them to life.

Who in the Chinese creative community do you want us to interview next? Why? What should we ask him (her)?

Interview my friend Bunny. She is so great but hasn’t gotten popular or famous yet. Ask her why she is not popular yet.