Aotu Studio Aims to Reopen in August; Hosts Demolition-Themed Performance Art In the Interim

While brick laying and demolition have laid waste to many a hutong institution as of late, one of those alleyway venues is hoping to turn strewn rubble and crushed spirits into a source of resolute inspiration.

Aotu Studio has put out a call for local talent to partake in a day long demolition-themed, multidisciplinary art project that will commemorate what's been lost, and reassure those who remain. Head of PR Wen Shun also told the Beijinger that Aotu's current closure is only temporary, and that its owners hope to reopen the space in August. Despite that good news, some demolition, as part of the government's ongoing hutong reclamation push, will claim the venue's second floor, where their hair salon was located, though the ground floor's exhibition room will at least be spared (Aotu's staff will take this opportunity make some renovations of their own on that first floor before reopening). Wen said they might be able to keep the hair salon but are unsure, though their stylists will continue their work in a new location if they have to leave.

Late Sunday night (May 21), Wen posted a statement on Aotu's WeChat account inviting artists of all stripes to come use their exhibition room in the midst of that demolition and create works reflecting on the upheaval of both the venue and the hutongs in general. Calling the project "Days in Trans" (short of "transition"), the studio's staff plan to record those works and broadcast them on social media.

In the WeChat post, Wen wrote:

"To counteract the possible melancholy and emotional frustration brought by this process (the demolitions), and to be an active part of it, we decide to use Aotu as a unique but fleeting subject in the fragments of time. Performance comes up as a perfect way to capture those moments of change with its strong sense of presence and tangibility. Therefore, Days in Trans. is an open call for artists and non-artists, individual and collective to use Aotu studio under demolition as a venue, a fundamental prop, and a source of inspiration to create an art work in any form of performance within one day."

Wen added that Trans will include:

• Performances based on or inspired by the current state of Aotu Studio     
• Performances taking place inside or around Aotu Studio
• Real-time recording and online broadcasting of the performance in forms of text, image, or live broadcast     
• Recordings as materials for an up-coming documentary

The performances will be live broadcast online by tianyantv (WeChat ID: tianyantonglive). Other specifics, such as the date of performances and their broadcast, haven't been finalized. But those looking to take part in Trans can email Wen and the rest of Aotu's staff at aotustudio2014@qq.com (they ask you include a brief self introduction and project pitch). The WeChat post also mentioned a potential crowd fund for the venue, though further details about that still remain to be sorted.

Wen tells TBJ that Aotu's staff is eager to work with local artists on Days in Trans "Because we don't want emotions to sink and we don't want to simply sit and watch. In situations where unpleasant things have to happen, there must be another way around. And it's most fun to play with those situations in creative ways."

Aotu Studio opened in late 2014 as both a trendy hair salon and a performance art space. The later helped it quickly earn a dedicated following who frequented the venue for exhibits, film screenings, artsy workshops as well as a quick snip. With Days in Trans, Aotu's artsy take on the recent hutong turmoil seems to be in the same spirit as a recently announced zine project by the co-founders of the Loreli multimedia platform. That leaves us hoping even more works are produced, as consolation for the shuttering of some of our favorite alleyway venues.

We'll update this blog once Aotu has details to share about Days in Trans. Read Aotu's WeChat post about the project here.

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Email: kylemullin@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @MulKyle

Photos courtesy of Aotu Studio