BEIJING, CHINA
Part II in the “49 Waltz” series is a video/soundwork based on both the graphic score for “49 Waltzes for the Five Boroughs” by the composer, John Cage as well as the video realization of that work which is described elsewhere. The response to the latter was so positive, that when my brother invited me to visit him in Beijing last summer, I leaped at the opportunity to shoot a version of the piece in that ancient city.
Dan ( cameraman and collaborator) and I walked in and out of the back streets of the old city of Beijing in 100 degree weather, glimpsing the everyday activities of the men and women and children who lived and played there. Although we shot in parks, near lakes, on highways, the most fascinating experience for us was shooting in the Hutongs, unique to Beijing. The Hutongs are narrow alleyways that are fast disappearing, and Hutong collaborative living along with them. It was clear that the city was in transition, preparing for the Olympics the following summer, demolition and construction surrounded us, and there was an air of unease in the Hutong communities, and yet life went on as usual.
We have documented the locations where ordinary people live, play, and relax within the old city of Beijing. As with the first “49 Waltzes” (see New York Waltz) , our policy throughout was to stay true to John Cage, letting “chance” be our motivating motto. We selected the locations by chance, and determined the duration of our shots by chance as well. We decided never to inject ourselves into the filming, but to permit any curious onlookers to participate in any way they wished– which they often did.
This was primarily designed as a sound work. To encourage the listener to “hear” , to become more aware of the unique and ordinary sounds of the city. The true subject of the work is the unintentional music made by skateboarders, birds, cranes, the click of men gambling in the streets, and local groups of people playing instruments together in the park among countless other snatches of sounds.
But , it is also a visual work, that allows you to get to “know” the city in a very different way. A city that will never look this way again.