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A few months ago I had the pleasure of visiting our sister institution Xiaozhuang
College in Nanjing, China. Our hosts were incredibly generous and we were treated
to both culinary and visual delights that warmed my "Marco Polo"
genes. I was impressed, surprised and touched by many of the sights, sounds
and people that we met. It was everything I expected of China and more. The
country was at once disorienting, enticing, progressive and throbbing with a
vital energy. The Shanghai airport dwarfs Heathrow, Kennedy or Frankfurt and
the city skyline is an exotic replica of Chicago, at once robust, confident
and futuristic. Juxtapose this with images of workers stooping in rice fields,
thousands of bicycle riders and unreadable signage and you might have a sense
of the environment. There was culture shock and awe in equal portions but what
really stayed with me were the encounters and connections I made with the students
and professors at Xiaozhuang College in Nanjing. Those in the fine arts program
made an indelible impression. They glowed with creativity, sensitivity and idealism
and it burst out of the images they produced in their graduation show. I heard
their voices unmediated by the complexities of language and the messages need
little interpretation. I photographed most of the pieces and I present them
herein for your pleasure. I am reminded that young artists everywhere share
many common attitudes and anxieties about the world they live in. It bubbles
to the surface through their art, rendering text superfluous. This is the kind
of visual polemic about the environment we need more of in the McWest. The future
will see many more exchanges of students, professors, and works of art between
Xiaozhuang and Brandon. It is the best kind of intellectual exchange and a dialogue
that promotes understanding and partnerships. Enjoy.
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