Q: Welcome to Songzhuang. We are very glad and honored to have you today at Sunshine International Art Museum. Is it your first time being in Songzhuang? What’s your first impression of Songzhuang and Sunshine International Art Museum?
A: Thank you very much! Yes, it is my first time to Songzhuang. I’ve never been to this part of Beijing before, although I’ve been here for 5 years, so you can imagine it’s a very big city. I’ve got to see everything, so it’s a pleasure to be here and see the other part. Just driving in, I realize there are many studios and art shops around this area. It seems quite impressive, so I’m wondering if I need to come back and have a look of those studios and shops along the way.
Q: Songzhuang has attracted numerous artists these years and become the largest community of artists in Asia. Could you tell us what do you think of the future of Songzhuang?
A: It’s my first time being in this area and my first time going about this museum. I have stayed within the zone of Chao Yang District and studios in that area. I realize that it is really a large artistic community here. It’s quite impressive that the museum and the space here which can cater to so many different artistic works from so many different areas. So I really do think it has real potential to grow and grow and continue to grow. And it’s a beautiful studio. I realize the museum’s architecture is really wonderful.
Q: I hope that you can come back again to visit Songzhuang and our museum. I wonder when you got to know Mr. McFarlane and what do you think of his works and his plan of traveling around the world.
A: We met about three year ago when he came to Beijing. Actually we met Peter Lewis who introduced us to Bryan at the embassy. They know previously the ambassador, so they make contact with the Jamaican embassy because we all opened the embassy in 2005. So shortly after that I personally met these two gentlemen. And Bryan, his love of art and his interest in just getting to know the people of particular countries and knowing about their cultures, and getting into that and then doing his works contributes to the artistic part of it. He’s so involved that no wonder he makes such wonderful artistic work that he presents because it is in-depth and you have to internalize it because it’s really coming within him, expressing what it is that he has learned and what it is that he wants to convey in terms of human kind from different cultures coming together meeting. He’s quite an impressive artist.
Q: What words or phrases would you like to put to best describe your opinion of Bryan and his works?
A: “Captivating” is one, because when you see his work, you want to get into it and draw from what it is the artist is communicating to you, so it captivates you. Also it is quite intriguing. Because there are some similar themes, but also there are differences in terms of some other works that he presents. So you have the egg theme of a few of his art works, and then you have another one that says opera which contract with that. The way I interpret, which may not be the way the artist wants to interpret, is that you have to gain a coming together of different cultures and mixtures. So the opera you see is the Chinese artistic representation there, then you can also see some western influence in that work as well.
Q: Are you interested in Contemporary Art? What’s your opinion about the development of Chinese Contemporary Art?
A: I won’t be able to say my opinion about Chinese Contemporary Art because I haven’t been to that many Chinese artistic shows and exhibitions. Most of the shows I’ve been to since I’ve been in China are foreign-oriented art shows. So I’m unable to give opinion about Chinese Contemporary Art. I’m sorry about that.
Q: Could you please tell us about the development of Contemporary Art in Jamaica?
A: We do have a lot of young artists on this theme currently in Jamaica. And they are trying to express what is taking place in the society. Reggae is a major part of our culture, the Reggae music and the Reggae dance, so we have some of the artists trying to present that theme in their works. So that is one thread of the theme. There are others who are more into Abstracts. They are breaking new ground in terms of what they are representing and what they want to portray. In fact, in October there will be an exhibition here in Beijing and five Jamaican artists have been invited to participate in that. And we are very happy to see that they will be able to represent Contemporary Art in Jamaica.
Q: How does Jamaican government support the artistic development in Jamaica?
A: Actually the government of Jamaica does not provide financial assistance to these artists because currently we are in a very difficult financial situation. But we do provide other types of assistance, for example, we have embassies in various countries, so the artists can contact the embassies to say “we want to do this, could you provide us logistic support or any other type of administrative support?” In Jamaica itself, the ministry of culture and sports has responsibility for that and they are able to provide the types of support some of these artists need, which of course does not include financial assistance. Mainly it is the private sector and individual themselves who are supporting artistic activities.
Q: Bryan’s show definitely provides a great chance for the cultural and artistic exchanges between China and Jamaica. In your opinion, how can China and Jamaica deepen mutual understanding among the peoples and the governments?
A: Certainly exhibitions like this will help where we have Jamaican artists presenting their works. We can facilitate Chinese artists going to Jamaica and presenting their works. That’s upon the cultural exchange that we would certainly like to promote. In addition, we’ve had other artistic exchanges in terms of Chinese dance and Kong fu troops going to Jamaica. We have had coming to China dance troops and Reggae bands. So these exchanges will certainly enhance relationship among the people. As you may know, Jamaica is a major tourist site. We hope more and more Chinese to visit Jamaica and take advantage of the location, the food and so on and to get to know us and the culture. Our tourism motto is “when you come you know”. (Giggles)
Q: I believe that you’ve been to many occasions where China and Jamaica enhance their relations and mutual understandings. In what area do you think we can further our cooperation?
A: Speaking generally, Jamaica is majorly relying on trade. We’d love to promote Jamaican exports into China. So that is one of our main focuses. Another is getting Chinese investment into Jamaica to help us with the development. In fact, in the coming July our Minister of Industry Investment and Commerce will be coming and visiting the Shanghai Expo. They will have an investment forum in July. We hope to draw investment into our various sectors like the coffee industry and construction sector. For example, housing sector is one of the areas. Also IT facilities and hydro-electronic power are other areas we are interested in. So these are some of the sectors we have identified that we want to promote in China and get Chinese businessmen to look at Jamaica and to say “Yes, we can do business and we can invest in these areas in Jamaica. And that would be a great benefit to our country and certainly enhance China-Jamaica relations.
Q: Is there a Jamaican Pavilion in Shanghai Expo?
A: There is the Caribbean Pavilion, which is a joint pavilion. And Jamaica is one of the countries exhibiting. There are ten countries from the Caribbean in that pavilion. If you go visit the Caribbean Pavilion, then you will go the Jamaican Booth.
Q: Since you’ve been in Beijing for five year, do you like it? Have you been to other cities in China? Is there any place that impresses you?
A: I’ve had very good tour of duty here. I’ve being enjoyed a lot. I’ve seen a lot not just in Beijing, but also across China. I visited a number of cities, seeing the differences between Shanghai and Beijing, for example, Shanghai and Shenzhen. I have enjoyed my stay here.
Q: I hope to have more chances to know the culture, history, art and everything of Jamaica. Would you please give some suggestions?
A: Come to Jamaica, so that you immerse yourself into the culture and the environment. Also you can visit us in the embassy, we’ll provide as much information as possible. Also you can go to Shanghai Expo and visit Jamaican Booth in the Caribbean Pavilion.
(文：柯妍/摄影：/责任编辑：CF)
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