Semester 1

Chapter IX: Corporate Bullshit^TM & Gay Reign (October 26 - October 30, 2016)

Okay, this one’s gonna be fun. My university organized two days event for government scholarship holders which included visits to a start-up incubator, GE Shanghai, some aircraft manufacturer and an online gaming company. Since it was funded directly by the government, the budget was obviously generous and they could cover transportation, meals in different restaurants and one night at a pretty decent hotel. Now, I find corporate culture about as appealing as the idea of a strap-on in my asshole so I couldn’t wait to hear some odes directly from those who chose to get fucked over as a livelihood.

The absolute highlight was the GE visit. I like how these motherfuckers act like their shit don’t stink and they actually cover their agenda behind a veil of innocence and responsibility. Like yeah, of course the main goal of a global corporation isn’t to grow and grow (even over dead bodies) but to create a great environment for employees and to give a fuck about sustainability and ecology. Anyways, they let some fresh interns/employees to speak about their GE experience and it was pure gold. Most common keywords were “change”, “bravery” and “friends”. Cause that’s what it’s all about, right? Those poor puppets talking about how it’s important to identify with the GE brand and how everything starts with the ability of selling yourself. You know what would be brave? If the fucking guy stripped naked, drew swastika under the GE logo and the pissed on hiss boss’ laptop. Bravery my ass. Sterility of that place was absolutely on point. They had their own fucking Starbucks in the yard, gym for employees, corporate art all over the place and lotta trees and green shit too. They even got chargers for electric cars available for employees. So yeah, I guess if you do this, all that shit you do behind the scenes doesn’t count. The variety of different areas GE covers is actually quite remarkable. It’s the fucking E-Corp from Mr. Robot.

The other visits were fun too. All those lovely people working in the incubator hoping to become big ass entrepreneurs and a guy from the online gaming joint explaining gaming situation in China… This company just moved into a new complex which is similar to the GE one - only with more fun interiors. Our capitalism, our corporations, our religion. Fuck the haters.

We also had a chance to witness an ongoing construction of an aircraft in a Comac manufacture. That was actually pretty cool. Dozens of people working on this huge machine like aunts... During this trip, I was reminded how fucking massive the city is. It can take hours on a bus to get from one district to another – especially during traffic peaks.

And then there was Saturday. Halloween. Chinese actually take this shit seriously. Outside, you meet so many people with make-up on wearing awesome costumes - the city just gets weird in a very cool way. This was my first time in the Arkham club and I arrived like half an hour before the midnight. DJ spinned some enjoyable tunes and around 1pm Rich Chigga took over. This guy is a fucking hero over here. Girls went completely loco when he appeared and they didn’t stop until he finished his set with Dat Stick (okay, at that point I screamed the lyrics like a little bitch too). Even though he has pretty much no catalogue and he even karaoked some Earl Sweatshirt joints, you just gotta give him props. He’s pretty good live and Dat Stick is a smash.

Then Le1f came in and just over-killed it. This was one of the best (and also queerest) live rap performances I have ever seen. His mic presence is undeniable, he spits double tempo like it's nothing and throughout his whole set he pulls off dance routines along with his two buddies. No straight rapper gives you that. Add a crowd full of witches, jokers, superheroes and other weirdos, and you get an energy that's worth every penny. 

When it comes to art, I have checked new exhibition at Art+ Gallery (works of Ye Hongxing) and MD Gallery (Li Hongbo’s and Shi Ningfang’s installations). I liked both. What I don’t like though is the fact summer is apparently over and we are moving towards fall. It’s still pretty acceptable but gone are the days of shorts and short sleeves… 

Highlights:

• Conference room above a lake with glass floor. That’s how they do it in gaming companies in Shanghai.
• Le1f stripping all the way down to his boxers and jumping into the crowd to close up his performance.
• Riding my bike to school through the most intense rain imaginable. Mixture of swimming and pedaling. Priceless.

Semester 1

Chapter VIII: Anti-social in the Shelter (October 18 - October 25, 2016)

Another week, your boy taeb checking in. I really appreciate the fact weather still maintains its summer vibe, so meanwhile back home people already freeze, I’m still wearing short sleeves, working out outside and comfortably riding my bike anywhere the fuck I want. I hate winters so kudos to Shanghai for keeping this right.

I took me a while but I finally managed to visit The Shelter – one of the most prolific underground clubs around. When you’re into real clubbing and real music, this one of the best spots to go to. On Saturday, they had Lotic on the line up. I actually saw this guy about a year ago in the Czech Republic so I had an idea what I was signing up to. Me and my friends drank some beers in front of a convenient store nearby and then hit the spot. Before you enter, you have to take couple of stairs down the basement and then walk a little tunnel. Shelter is more spacious than Dada and it really resembles a war shelter. All dark with some pillars dividing the dance floor; plus the area for sitting gives you a decent amount of privacy, if needed. No fucking tables for rich kids, no segregation, no bullshit. The party was fucking dope, Lotic killed it and it’s safe to say this was one of my best clubbing experience in Shanghai so far.

I’m also putting together concept of my first paper for the university. Gonna make it on usage of anti-refugee rhetoric during political campaigns in the Czech Republic. Since this travesty is going on in unprecedented scale and since we have zero refugee related issues, it seems like quite a solid topic to elaborate on and bitch about on academic grounds. It has been approved by my supervisor and I would like to start with it later on this week.

Apart from my weekend ventures, I keep it anti-social for the most part. Sometimes I get out to see an exhibition or to ride to an unexplored side of town but generally, I just read a lot, binge watch TV shows (what up Westworld, what up Horace and Pete, what up Peaky Blinders) and listen to incredible amounts of music. I’m also trying to get an internship – I was in the Madein Gallery for an interview and I got some other options on the table so hopefully, I’ll be able to land something soon.

Halloween is coming so the internet and even some spots in the city are decorated for the occasion. The upcoming weekend, lots of “Halloween” parties are taking place all over Shanghai and I intend to attend some. I kinda wonder whether they’re gonna try to sell the Christmas the same way. I guess they will. Chinese probably wouldn’t give a fuck about shit like this but in a city like Shanghai, there are just too many people from all over the world not to commercialize it.

Highlights: 

• It took me couple of centuries but I’ve decided to join Instagram. Not sure how much I’ll actually use it but if you want to, feel free to follow me. I can DM you some dick pics… I wonder whether there’s a chance, I’ll get to Snapchat too. Feel fucking old for that…
• Like 3 days of non-stop rain from Thursday till Saturday. In Shanghai, when it rains, it fucking pours. It’s not like, “I’ll go outside and get a little wet" kinda rain, it’s full blown “I’m staying the fuck in” kinda situation. On Friday I managed not to leave my flat at all which probably hasn’t happened since I was like 6.
• Fucking Chinese language. Learning that, I still feel retarded. That shit just won’t go into my head. This is gonna be a real struggle.

Semester 1

Chapter VII: Fashion Paradoxes (October 12 – October 17, 2016)

Last week, I had a chance to visit the Shanghai Fashion Trade Show where international designers and brands present new collections and make their contributions to the world of either rich or famous or both. And of course also showcase shit that will be eventually ripped off by H&Ms, Zaras, Bershkas and other awesome companies providing miserably paid jobs to children all over Asia. 80% of the shit is non-wearable though – some of it simply cause it just doesn’t meet requirements of clothing, some cause it’s way to bizarre. Unless you’re shooting a hiphop video of course. That’s actually quite fascinating. When I walked around the venue – rebuilt industrial building just next to the Power Station of Art – musically, I was exposed mostly to fresh underground trap. This is quite amazing to me. You got black guys who literally just made it out of trap rapping about killing people, doing/selling drugs and generally portraying this convenient numbness to everything, and it serves as an elevator music for rich white and Asian people who spend their lives buying the most ridiculous shit. In a way, it all actually makes perfect sense.

When it comes to art, I visited Madein Gallery. They do mostly media art and the current exhibition focuses on Asian post-internet artists. Mixture of 3D, vaporwave, paintings and video art. Even though it’s little outdated at this point, it was by far the freshest experience I’ve had in a gallery  in Shanghai. Apart from that, I went to explore M50 exhibition space. Also former industrial area which now serves as a platform for galleries, ateliers, cafes and restaurants. Very hipsterish. I was there last year during my first Shanghai visit and nothing really changed. Some of the exhibitions have even prevailed. It’s a cool area but nothing really impressed me this time around.

And then there was Saturday. I wen to Le Baron again to visit an afterparty of one of the fashion brands. This time it was with a live act. You know I G Ma? The smash hit of Keith Ape? Well, Keith didn’t come but the other guys did so there you have it. Live Korean trap. Le Baron is a very expensive club and you can tell by the weird diversity of the crowd. Even when it’s a hiphop party, you got super fake white dudes in white shirts who cannot dance for shit (although they really try) but you can smell money off them. You got tons of bitches on high heels, probably hoping to score one of the money guys. Occasionally, you spot those kind of hiphop heads who can afford this type of shit, and that particular night there were, of course, fashion people. Well, and then you got me. The live show was kinda short but kinda dope. The guys were full of energy and did it whole half playback. I drank lots of Martini and Jameson and ended up smoking with them in the backstage. I think there were guys from the Genome 666 collective too. It was chilled and I got super faded…

 

School is fine too. I’m struggling with Chinese. The language is so fucking hard, it hurts. I'm trying to be a good student though – doing my homework, following recommended online courses and shit… We had a seminar on new Media on Saturday which made me realize again of how fucking far the campus is. I was supposed to be there 8:15 and I had to wake up like 5:30 to actually make it. Took one of the first subways. But yeah, things are moving at a very convenient pace which allows me to me read a lot, watch lots of new TV series and making my little trips around the city. And fucking running and working out. The weather is still cool and temperature doesn’t go under 20 degrees.

 

Highlights:

• I bought a ticket for a Halloween party in the Arkham club. Le1F’s is the main act and Rich Chigga’s serves as a support. October 29^th!
• On Sunday, this Happy Buddha joint (located in the venue of short movies gig I went to couple of weeks ago) introduced the very first vegan ice cream in Shanghai. Based on coconut milk, they offer chocolate, vanilla and vanilla with mint flavors. The first day, they gave it away for free and I almost overdosed.
• I got my fucking residence permit. It cost 1000 RMB but it’s done and I can get this shit off my to do list. On the way to the station (in the Pudong district) I had to cross the river using the Shanghai ferry. Didn’t have a clue they do ferries here. It’s super cheap too.

Selfie of the chapter:

my research group

 

Semester 1

Chapter VI – Techno & Moolah (October 04 - October 11, 2016)

Everything’s good. I’m developing my mental GPS of the city as I don’t really use subway and just go for my bike every chance I get. Since the fucking rent eats up about a half of my scholarship funds, until I hustle my way out of this, I’m leading a proper student life. Going to galleries, cooking like a motherfucker and generally being financially super responsible, so I can blow some dough on alcohol and partying from time to time.

I think I’ve entered the phase when Shanghai really starts to feel like home. I've adjusted to the big buildings, I don’t use Google Maps that much anymore, I found a place around the corner, where I get my Chinese dumplings filled with tofu and some veggies… My throat doesn’t hurt every evening as it used to when I got here. Not sure whether it’s cause weather’s kinda nice or cause my organism just gave up, stopped filtering all the pollution and accepted the fact that I’m probably not gonna live until 70 or something…

I’ve met some more cool people and discover some decent (and fucking expensive) bars. Last week, I got invited to this techno party in Nantong (city around 2 hours from Shanghai) so I spontaneously texted my Macedonian guy and that night we randomly ended up in a club called Wave. The event was organized by a collective around The Mansion. Those guys are mostly international and they reside in an actual mansion close to the Shanghai Zoo where they organize mostly base and techno parties on weekly basis. This was an event for their followers. Free transportation, free entry and hours of pretty cool music. I got back to my apartment around 9 in the morning.

I got my first experience with a vegan restaurant too. The name of the place is Jen Dow and it’s located right next to the Jing’an temple. Pretty cool but I’m sticking to cooking for now.

As for artsy shit, I’ve went to a screening of one of the classic Chinese movies Ju Dou. Guys from an expat website Time Out Shanghai do free screenings once a month in this super poshy restaurant the Glam close to the Bund. It’s quite hard to really follow the local cinematography. Characters tend to act in ways you find super corny and pretty much unbelievable at first... Until you actually let it sink in, open up a little bit a realize that your fucking skeptical bitterness and hysterical individualism might not be the only way to live. Definitely wanna check some more…. I also paid a visit to Art+ Shanghai Gallery (works of Beijing fresh graduates) and the M97 Gallery where they display some street Hong Kong photographs by a guy named Michael Wolf. It’s funny how many of them resemble Shanghai. That’s the cool thing about living downtown. Once you get settled a little, you just relax and you actually notice shit around you. All the little stuff… 

Highlights:

• After a month, I finally received my scholarship (whoop whoop!).
• By some weird accident, I got onto a rooftop of one pretty damn tall residential building last Friday. The view was awesome, beer was there, life was good.
• I finished the book Debt: The First 5000 Years by David Graeber. Please, everyone just fucking read it and end this capitalism bullshit already… I mean that shit.

Picture of the chapter:

 

 

Semester 1

Chapter V: Arts and Fakes (September 29 – October 03, 2016)

In Shanghai, you do feel smaller because everything is bigger. While in my hometown, the standard residential building is around 5 stories, here it’s like 30. Plus all the skyscrapers. I pretty much neglect subway and go everywhere by bike – that gives me a real feeling of how gigantic the city actually is and also probably ruins my health big time.

Last Thursday, I visited a short films screening in a venue named The Market. It’s a little arena with some bistros and cafés inside. There were filmmakers from U.S. or Russia along with locals and they showed 6 movies that ranged somewhere between mediocre and plain bad. No edginess, no controversy, 3 dimensional characters nowhere to be found... That’s quite weird, cause those qualities are in fact exactly something shorts can and should do. Well, at least I noticed they do vegan burgers at one of the joints over there…

On Friday, we checked a club named Mirror. The deal was the same as the last week. Free entrance, free vodka. Music was little better than the last time, the club was much smaller but the segregation applied to the same extent. It’s quite interesting that in these mainstream clubs, many DJs are females. The criteria is probably very strict though – model chick with some tattoos. Over the evening, she played some hip hop and slid all the way to fucking EDM. Later on she was replaced by a guy who switched it back to rap. The audience was fairly generic again but it was a quite acceptable for a hangout. I got home after 5...

On Saturday, I checked the Power Station of Art, a super famous exhibition place that displays mostly contemporary art (on the way there, I got my first haircut in China – yay!). The place used to be an actual power station and it was rebuilt into a gallery space. They did a great job on that and it obviously attracts hundreds of people each and every day. Current exhibitions touch plethora of topics, from abstract paintings, comics or architecture, all the way to performances. As a part of one piece they even served french fries. You can go to a terrace on the 4^th floor and check surroundings, construction sites, arenas and skyscrapers. There are spots for kids to play, there’s plenty of space and all of it feels very comfortable.

Since the Xuhui campus does not have a gym and I’m not willing to pay downtown prices for those, I take what’s available. There’s an athletic track on the campus and right by side of it, there are some racks. This kinda forces me to switch my work out to using my own body weight and since the weather is still very summerish, so far I enjoy that. I go there like every other day.

Apart from that, I managed to check another event over the weekend. On Sunday, I went to Jingan Sculpture Park at Beijing Road to check an exhibition of statues from artists from all over the world. The park isn’t that big but it gives you a Central Park vibe. It’s really well maintained, grass is short and green, lots of trees all around with all the skyscrapers emerging on the background. What I loved about the whole thing was the fact that it really serves as a functional public space. The statues are mostly metal and are disseminated all over. Oh, there’s a magnificent hay fox sitting in the middle of all of it. Anyway, people just sit in the grass talking and chilling, children run around jumping from one statue to another, touch every art piece they want to – this is how it’s supposed to be done.

Since there’s a holiday happening this week, I believe I’ll have more opportunities to check what’s on. Seems to me that it’s quite a lot.

Highlights:

• Meeting a 15 year old girl in the gallery. It was a nice talk but damn… Realizing that you can actually have a solid conversation with someone literally half your age kinda hurts…
• Hiphop collective playing in a park right across the main street from Jingan Temple. Me and my friend grabbed a beer and listen to those guys (and a girl) rapping in Chinese for about two hours. They had a big ass speaker, played beats from their smartphones and actually rapped pretty well. The point is – police were all over the place but did not attempt to shut them down. I can hardly imagine this kinda of freedom at 9 PM in Europe. It felt awesome.
• Han City – the first fake market I checked around here. It’s a cyberpunk looking place in at Nanjing Road stretched over 4 floors. Feeling like buying branded electronics, glasses, clothes, suitcases or whatever the fuck you want? All 100% authentic...