MAPPING TERRITORIES : A SHANGHAI STORY
2006
Caroline Hayeur and Mylena Bergeron were the first Canadian artists to be invited by the Duolun MoMA (Shanghai Duolun Museum of Modern Art) for their residency program. During their two-month stay, the two artists offered a community workshop (Open Workshop “Mind Lab”) and created a 45 minute video-music performance on the city of Shanghai. This journey also marked the naming of the duo as the Ying Yang Ladies, reinforcing their collaboration which started in 2003.
Nuit blanche à Montréal, Complexe Ex-Centris, 3 mars 2007 © Bruce Hassuk
Shanghai was the site of a frenetic urban make-over which left only 5% of its historical city remaining. The demolition, reconstruction and expansion of the city meant an often unwanted migration of its population.
The artists explored in vivo the changes of this “city-world” and observed the speed at which the landscape was modified, especially with the huge construction sites which cleared the way for the 2010 Shanghai Universal Exhibition.
Roaming the city, the Ying Yang Ladies were challenged, mesmerized and elated by their ongoing cultural shock as they stumbled upon unexpected and inspiring encounters. The audio and visual stimuli were overwhelming and their data collection impressive.
St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, Saint-Jean de Terre-Neuve et Labrador, 17 octobre 2008 © Bruce Hassuk
The micro-narratives that emerged focused on the duo’s awareness of the instability created by the transformation of this territory. In this performance the Ying Yang Ladies created a meditative space where their own “aesthetic of slowness” prevailed.
The purpose of this project was to convey to the viewer/listener an experience of Shanghai where the speed, scale and density of the development of the city is re-mixed to achieve a sense of harmony.
Bannière annonçant la performance devant le Duolun MoMa de Shanghai, 2006 © D.R.
Performance au Musée Duolun MoMa de Shanghai, 23 juin 2006 © D.R.
MAPPING TERRITORIES : A SHANGHAI STORY
Artists: Caroline Hayeur (images) and Myléna Bergeron (sound) a.k.a. the Ying Yang Ladies
Technical description:
Video-music performance, big screen, around 45 min.
Tour:
2009 – Scène nationale 34, Le domaine d’O, Montpellier, France
2008 – The Room, St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, St. John Newfoundland and Labrador
2007 – Savoy Room of the Métropolis, Montréal, 8th biennial Les HTMlles – Festival féministe d'arts médiatiques et de culture numérique (theme: Crowd control)
2007 – Complexe Ex-Centris, Nuit blanche in Montréal
2006 – Chinese Community and Cultural Centre of Montréal
2006 – Shanghai Duolun MoMa Museum
Curator: Biljana Ciric – Thanks: Franck Serrano
Workshop with 30 participants from the community (Open Workshop « Mind Lab »),
Musée Duolun MoMA de Shanghai, 10 juin 2006 © D.R.
Domaine d'O – domaine départemental d'art et de culture, Scène Nationale
The St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival
Les HTMlles
Studio XX
Nuit blanche à Montréal
Centre Communautaire et Culturel Chinois de Montréal
Duolun MoMA
