“Guangzhou Supports You!” is a new photography activity that is absolutely oozing with local Guangzhou flavor. The original premise of the activity was simple, it was basically just to recruit Guangzhou residents who support Chen Yang, an outspoken Guangzhou CCTV news anchor who is not afraid to say what’s on his mind. However, the activity has evolved into a collective expression of love that everyone in the city can participate in, this is “Guangzhou Supports You! 2.0.” The activity is getting attention and praise from people of all walks of life and even including media; and many Chinese netizens are supporting the activity on their blogs and in online communities.

“Guangzhou Supports You!” works like this: the organizers supply a “Guangzhou Supports You!” graphic (at right) that serves as the essential element of the entire activity. Participants simply need to choose a corner, alley, place, space, etc. in Guangzhou, take a photo with the graphic appearing somewhere in the photo, and then upload the photo to the official “Guangzhou Supports You!” website to share their affection for Guangzhou with everyone – that’s it.

The young boy holding a camera in the “Guangzhou Supports You!” graphic represents the new generation of Guangzhou creative youth. The traditional five-story Chinese building juxtaposed with modern CITIC Plaza symbolizing the old and new of Guangzhou. As the activity organizers say: “We inherit the past and usher in the future. We are in it for the love of Guangzhou, and we will keep on keepin’ on.”

We think the “Guangzhou Supports You!” activity is a very meaningful example of emerging youth culture. And we especially like it because it’s bursting with local creativity and a passion for the arts. As such, we met up for a chat with A Huo (aka Fire), one of the founders / creators of the activity. A Huo is a local Guangzhou “born and bred” designer, illustrator, and street artist with a passion for his home town.

If you are based in Guangzhou and are even half as passionate about this 2222 year old lively city, don’t miss this opportunity to show your feelings – sign up at the “Guangzhou Supports You!” website and download the event graphic, grab your camera, and head out to capture your favorite unique Guangzhou moments and places.

Throughout the interview we’ve shared a sampling of some of the participant-submitted photographs from the “Guangzhou Supports You!” activity, as well as a great video A Huo produced. Being from Guangzhou myself, every time I watch this video and see all these photographs rich with scenes from everyday life in Guangzhou, I just cant help be filled with emotion. My city is so full of vigor and beauty.

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Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is A Huo. People call me Fire in English. I’m a freelancer, mostly doing design work. I’m into all sorts of creative culture stuff. You know, graffiti, illustration, photography, etc.

How long have you guys been doing “Guangzhou Supports You!”? How many photographs have been submitted? What kind of expectations do you have for the event?

“Guangzhou Supports You!” started in late August of this year (2009). It took us about a month to think everything through and get set up to launch the event. The last time I checked, which was the middle of September, we had 240 photo submissions for 50 some odd people. Probably twice that now as submissions just keep coming in. It’s already exceeded our expectations regarding participation and overall submission.

“…the best things about “Guangzhou Supports You!” have been: 1) meeting and
getting to know all these great people that are also passionate about Guangzhou;
and 2) being able to harness the city’s participation power and facilitate
a collective expression of Guangzhou’s local voice. Both very cool...”

Any photos or quotes in particular that best represents the spirit of “Guangzhou Supports You!”?

Yeah actually. There are two quotes that have left a deep impression on me.

One participant commented online: “Art can not be separated from our lives, just as we can not be separated from our dear Guangzhou.”

Another participant named Fan Bao said: “We are travelers, we are all just roaming travelers who will be amusing ourselves for a lifetime in this 2000 year old city.”

“…art can not be separated from our lives, just as we can not be
separated from our dear Guangzhou…we are travelers, we are all just roaming travelers
who will be amusing ourselves for a lifetime in this 2000 year old city…”

The video you guys did is excellent (see just below). It’s full of local Guangzhou flavor. I noticed someone in the video holding up the “Guangzhou Supports You!” poster in a crowd of people shuffling by. What a great visual, can you tell us a bit more about that shot? Also, how long did it take to shoot the video?

Hahaha. It took us about two days to shoot the video. We were running around all over town trying to find the best shots to represent and express all that is Guangzhou. Although we weren’t able to use all of the shots, the whole process of filming and production was very satisfying. It was a lot of fun.

The scene with the guy holding up the “Guangzhou Supports You!” poster was shot on Beijing Rd., Guangzhou’s famous pedestrian shopping street. There are always so many people walking on that street. When we were planning the video, we decided early on that we wanted to do a scene like this. We shot the scene on the weekend, when Beijing Rd. is always most bustling. We just had one of our friends stand there for about five minutes or so holding the sign while a sea of people rushed passed him. In the end, we were really pleased with the effect.

We saw a picture of you wearing a strange mask on your blog, what does that mask symbolize? Anything significant?

That mask is “Big Headed Buddha” (大头佛) from the Guangdong TV show called Awakening the Lion (醒狮). I wear it because “Big Headed Buddha” in many ways represents Guangdong and local Guangzhou culture. It helps people recognize our unique local culture, which seems to be slowly slipping away. The photos I take with the mask are supposed to express the idea of local culture existing between the city and its individual resident.

“…the Guangzhou in my heart always puts people
first and is constantly going forward and progressing…”

Tell us a bit about “Guangzhou Supports You!” participants? Also, where are most of the photographs coming from?

The common thread that runs through all of the participants is a passion and love for Guangzhou. A lot of these folks have already been regularly documenting interesting facets of life on the streets of Guangzhou with their photography. It’s quite a big circle in fact. These people use their talents and actions to express their love for Guangzhou to everyone.

Most of the photos seem to be taken in the city’s “old town” district. A lot of photographers are attracted to street scenes in Guangzhou that are quickly vanishing. One by one they are documenting the old town in their own special ways. The resulting photography shows everyone’s individual thoughts and sentiments about the city. It’s great.

Do you guys have any sort of requirements for selecting or filtering the photo submissions?

As long as the photographs are taken in the city and they include the “Guangzhou Supports You!” graphic, they are accepted. Simple as that. We very much appreciate the efforts of participants. They are doing it for the city and that’s something we like!

So tell us, what has changed between the 1.0 and 2.0 versions of the “Guangzhou Supports You!

”?

“Guangzhou Supports You! 2.0″ is still riffing on the 1.0 theme of “voices of the people” and expressing the “spirit of Guangzhou.” It’s now really just about expressing our love for Guangzhou as loudly as possible!

“…the common thread that runs through all of the
participants is a passion and love for Guangzhou…”

“I don’t dare say how Guangzhou will be changed because of “Guangzhou Supports You!”, but you can be sure that we are bringing everyone together.” So, is that you are tying to achieve? Is it an attack against the the stereotype that Guangzhou is the coldest and most-detached city in China?

Through “Guangzhou Supports You!”, we are trying to facilitate a collective expression of love and support of Guangzhou among local residents. As for Guangzhou being the “coldest and most detached city in China,” well, we are certain that this nonsense stereotype will collapse on itself with our efforts.

The Chinese characters for “Guangzhou Supports You!” are “广州撑你!” Those four characters can carry deep sentiment / meaning; they also make up a quintessential Cantonese-style phrase. Why did you decide to use this phrase? How did you come up with it?

This phrase, “广州撑你,” just best captures the “support Guangzhou” aspiration of the activity. The literal meaning of the phrase in Chinese can also be “Guangzhou, We / I Support You.” You know, kind of like the concept of mutual respect and support between the city and its residents. In Chinese, it’s a fun phrase that can be played with.

You speak of the “Guangzhou spirit” a lot, tell us, what is the “Guangzhou spirit” to you? How do you put it in words? Tell us about the Guangzhou in your heart.

It’s a city that puts people first. It’s a happy-go-lucky place; a place of unlimited opportunity and excitement, a place of great emotion and affection.

 The Guangzhou in my heart always puts people first and is constantly going forward and progressing. The residents are at the core of the city helping retain the memory of the city as “the best of places” kinda place.

“…the literal meaning of “广州撑你” in Chinese can
also be “Guangzhou, We / I Support You.” You know, kinda of like
the concept of mutual respect and support between
the city and its residents…”

Has “Guangzhou Supports You!” gotten any media attention?

Yeah, we’ve been covered by New Express Daily, Nanfang Daily, and some other mainstream media. We are also talking to some other media right to figure out how to cooperate. They seem to dig what we are doing.

It’s quite a task to prepare and organize such a big activity. You must be tired? How many people are involved in managing “Guangzhou Supports You!”? What are you guys busy with?

Yeah, it really is quite tiring. But it’s also very enjoyable. Right now there is me (Fire), RD, Orez, Denik, Kaiser, and York involved in making this all happen.

“Guangzhou Supports You!” runs through October, what’s next? What about this electronic map project I heard about?

We are working now to plan the next activity as well as an ending party for “Guangzhou Supports You!” The electronic map project will show everyone the real participation power of Guangzhou. Just wait and see!

“…through “Guangzhou Supports You!”, we are trying
to facilitate a collective expression of love and
support of Guangzhou among local residents…”

What’s been the biggest surprise in organizing “Guangzhou Supports You!”? What’s the best thing you’ve all got out of it?

The best things have been: 1) meeting and getting to know all these great people that are also passionate about Guangzhou; and 2) being able to harness the city’s participation power and facilitate a collective expression of Guangzhou’s local voice. Both very cool.

Have there been any “Guangzhou Supports You!” haters? How do you respond to those types of people?

No, nothing like that. The whole activity has just been so full of positive energy. I haven’t heard anything negative or doubtful.