The Origin of the Flower Fairies: Our Team and Volunteers
The inspiration of the flower fairies came from the resident and owner of 19ART, HanYuqi. It was the subject of her collection of abstract paintings in 1996.The actual flower fairies were a collaboration between her and her mother who shareda common love for the mystical beings.The flower fairy figurinesbecame an integral part of many subsequent photography series, and are now the central beings of 19ART.
Asifbymagic,theflowerfairiesof19ART cametolifeoneyear—theymanifestedinagroupofspritely universitystudentswhodiscoveredtheirhomeawayfromhomein19ART. Together,theyparticipatedin following and recording the transformation of Shanghai. In 2007, these fairies got their wings and created ImageTunnel – which over time became the unique art and culture hub it is today.
Flower Fairies and Before the Shanghai Expo
Byastrokeofinspiration,HanYuqitookablueflowerfairytothesiteofconstructionfortheShanghaiExpo. Different fairies went to different places in Shanghai and became the subject of many photos documenting the progressof change, from the construction sites, to the mysterious oldmansions, andartistic corners. The fairies followed HanYuqi around the city.They were not merely dolls anymore, they became the witness toa world in transformation.
花精灵的来源:成为团队志愿者的故事
神奇的是,19号楼的花精灵,变成了栩栩如生真实的“花精灵”;一群80后精灵般的大学生来到19号楼, 一起关注、记录上海正在进行的变幻。2007年,他们化身为致力本土文化崛起的展翅花精灵。而Image Tunnel也成为唯一独特的艺术与文献于一体的影像资料库。花精灵走在世博前夕
一次的突发奇想,把一个蓝色的花精灵缠绕着红纱,带进2010世博工地,无意地介入这个时代,见证了世 博前夕的发展。于是,不同的花精灵进入了上海世博会的工地、神秘的古宅、艺术仓库等。
她们成为富有传奇见证城市的一个个角色,随韩妤齐经历了这城市的变迁、发展……由玩偶演变成有真实生 命的历程,梦幻的梦,真实的经历,融入了时代神奇的变幻。
Image Tunnel • Design• Story
Cabin 19: Where It All Started
Beside the Suzhou Creek, situated inside the famous M50 Park, hidden from the main walk is a mysterious loft- 19Art. Understated and full of mystical allure, it houses the artist who fought and saved the M50 Park. Inside 19ART, Image Tunnel operates as “the smallest cinema in Shanghai.” It, along with the woman who started it all, persists through the stages of the park and the city it loves, recording and sharing the transformation. Over time, it is known as “Le Seine in the East.”“Le Seine in the East” – a artist haven on the Suzhou Creek.
Image Tunnel is young and ambitious, taking on the task of being a matchmaker between art and the everyday people, because life is enriched by art, and by inviting art into people’s lives, everyone learn from the amazing dialogue that comes from it.
Much of the Shanghai culture and resources is being lost at an alarmingly fast pace, like the disappearing marketplaces, the old communities, and iconic architecture along the banks of the Suzhou Creek. So, a movement has started - to comprehensively capture on film Shanghai in transformation and share with the city we love.
The Smallest Cinema in Shanghai supports Chinese Independent Filmmakers
Focus: Documentary, Drama, Experimental Film-Making, Visual Recording, etc.
•2005 - Centennial Celebration of Film Making in China: Image Tunnel hosted a series of 14 cultural events to connect traditional Chinese art forms with contemporary forms. Highlights include a performance of Chinese traditional Kun opera sharing a stage with French pantomime.
•2007 – Initiated weekly screening of Chinese independent films, with directors in attendance, discussion forums and introduced 2010 memberships to the public.
•June 16, 2007 – Celebrated 102nd Anniversary of Film-Making in China. Under 19ART, an outdoor theater was erected, candles were lit to ignite the dreams, and the audience basked in the ambience of shared dreams. The theme of the night was “Touch The Dream” and the metaphor of fire to dream was alive that night. Just as fire is, dreams can be seen, can be real, but often cannot be touched. Nevertheless, we still try to reach for our dreams, even if we get burnt.
•June 14, 2008 – Image Tunnel hosted an open salon to the public, and in celebration of 103 years of film making in China, screened behind-the-footage of some of our films-in-progress. Director was in attendance and helped us launch the Image Tunnel Star Pendant.
•2008 – Image Tunnel’s own documentary “The Banks of Dreams” was accepted to become a selection in the 4th Bi-Annual New York ReelChina Contemporary Chinese Documentary Festival.
Between 2004 and 2010, Image Tunnel has supported and screened over 100 local independent films by Chinese filmmakers, hosted more than 30 film festivals, and provided an incubator for a new generation of creative filmmakers, photographers, musicians, poets, and other artists.
At Lyon, France, 2009, I happened to come across the retrospective show of world famous movies, in which the Image Tunnel had a chance to communicate with the Lumière brothers, sharing their enthusiasm for movie. That day was a rainy day, it is also the European Cultural Heritage Day.
The Origin of the Flower Fairies: Our Team and Volunteers
The inspiration of the flower fairies came from the resident and owner of 19ART, Han Yuqi. It was the subject of her collection of abstract paintings in 1996. The actual flower fairies were a collaboration between her and her mother who shared a common love for the mystical beings. The flower fairy figurines became an integral part of many subsequent photography series, and are now the central beings of 19ART.
As if by magic, the flower fairies of 19ART came to life one year—they manifested in a group of spritely university students who discovered their home away from home in 19ART. Together, they participated in following and recording the transformation of Shanghai. In 2007, these fairies got their wings and created Image Tunnel – which over time became the unique art and culture hub it is today.
Flower Fairies and Before the Shanghai Expo
By a stroke of inspiration, Han Yuqi took a blue flower fairy to the site of construction for the Shanghai Expo. Different fairies went to different places in Shanghai and became the subject of many photos documenting the progress of change, from the construction sites, to the mysterious old mansions, and artistic corners. The fairies followed Han Yuqi around the city. They were not merely dolls anymore, they became the witness to a world in transformation.
The Drift Bottles: Spreading Love and Dream
2007 – A Brand New Voyage
Feb 10, 2007 – two bottles were cast into Suzhou Creek, each containing the shared dreams and wishes of the Image Tunnel volunteers. The countdown symbolized more than the start of Image Tunnel; it launched a renaissance of the new local culture.
2008 – Story of 77
Thursday, August 7th, 2008 – July 7th on the Chinese Lunar Calendar marked the date of Chinese Qixi – which is a date where love and togetherness is celebrated, kind of a Chinese Valentine’s day. It was also the night before the Beijing Summer Olympics.
The bottles contained messages of welcome and friendship, bringing together foreigners in Shanghai and our community. It was through art and an open-mind that the distance between people is bridged.
The website for Suzhou Creek (www.suzhoucreek.com) was launched to recognize and promote the significance of the river in connecting Shanghai to the rest of the world. Suzhou Creek is a pulse that runs through the city, having witnessed thousands of years of development in our culture, and carrying our hopes and dreams to the unknown.
Meanwhile, some bottles have found their owners and were brought to Taiwan and abroad to countries, such as Germany.
Our Ideals are in Our Designs
Feb 10, 2010 – it is the 3rd anniversary of Image Tunnel. Han Yuqi found the launch ticket from 3 years ago, and friends from Taiwan and Australia all received one as gift. This was fate. It sparked an exchange of ideas from everyone, sharing their own opinions and experiences. Through Image Tunnel’s own projects, such as the drift bottles, perfume, Image Tunnel star pendant, love seeds, flower fairies, etc- great potential in China’s new generation of artists is clearly evident.
The Love Seeds from 2009
The origin of “love seed” started with an accidental encounter. The spring festival of 2009 had captured the eyes of some crystal specialists and brought them to the
19ART. Crystal is a magical stone – needs to be seeded and grows when it is protected and taken good care of. It is born with spiritualism, being called “Bodhisattva stone” in Buddhism. Many people believe that it is has memory while more people are deeply impressed by its purity.
Since the start of Image Tunnel in 2005, it holds the dream of reviving local culture with generations after generations. With our unremitting efforts, we hope to see the seed sprout and let the crystal be the witness to our dreams.
April 2009 – Image Tunnel’s Love Seed sprouted a design. From the crystal, we designed and made Image Tunnel Star Pendant of Hope. It is symbolic of our brand.
June 1, 2009 – It is Kids Day in China. 9 more designs sprouted from the crystals. And this time, we marked 20090601 on each piece to mark the occasion.
Perfume 2009-2010
Following the ideals of our new generation of artist, we created a fragrance that’s unique to 19ART. Image Tunnel is involved in every step of the process, and the perfume is named after our base of origin – 19ART. The fragrance is a soft blend of fruit and wood notes, understated and long lasting. The subtlety is signature of traditional eastern sensibility. Never invasive, it permeates the space, leaving a comfortable silage in its wake, like the Suzhou Creek in Shanghai. The bottle design is clear crystal, crafted by hand; grooves on the surface represent the ripples in the water. It reflect the traditional Chinese knowledge and the power of a perfect cube. It is what we feel represent the magic of Shanghai.
A secondary perfume was also created, with improved rose notes in the fragrance. This was introduced on Feb 14, 2010- falling on both the Chinese Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day in the West. It was limited production of 2010 bottles. This limited edition had rose essence as the basenote, both romantic and symbolic. The bottle design used glass and purple crystal to reflect the uniqueness.
Our perfume has been brought around the world, including France, England, USA, Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan, just to name a few. It has become a favorite among many local and international artist, directors, painters, creative directors, musicians, and architects.
19ART: Story of the Magic Cube
Artist Han Yuqi has created one-of-a-kind, and yet versatile, design in the magic cube. It also perfectly present the magic of Shanghai, reflecting in the potential and life of the city. This is seen in the 3x3 grid of the cube, which each surface divides into further 9 perfect squares.
On Feb 14, 2009 – we had an event around 9 drfit bottles, and later we discovered the magic of the 3x3 grid. We started using this pattern as the basic grid for our poster design, space design, postcards, etc. And we even implemented this into the design of our perfume bottle.
One day, one of our interns Thomas from the USA discovered the magic 3x3 grid in the design of the window in 19ART, and upon closer inspection, everyone discovered the door was also made in this pattern. 3x3 gives 9, and there are
9 individual spaces in 19ART, divided into 4 levels, 3 sets of stairs, and 2 rooftops, again resulting in 9 elements. Since the inception of Image Tunnel, it has been a magical 9 years, between 2002-2010.
There is a lot of magic in the study of the 3x3 grid pattern in traditional Chinese culture. It is reflected in almost every aspect of our life, and out from it can sprout great potential.
19ART and the Future: Life and Art
Image Tunnel, or 19ART as it is known to as people, operates from a unique perspective within our society. Our ideals are reflected in everything we do, and we aim to analyze, spread, and narrate the artistic community of a new generation within China. Since our start, Image Tunnel has been non-for- profit; our efforts is to promote our ideas in different aspects of our world, in urban living, architecture, art, film, photography, and design.
If art is a flower, then all the artists, architects, painters, sculptors, photographer, designers alike are petals. While each can hold incredible beauty, and however unique and individual each petal is, it can only become a flower when they come together. And that is what a community is about.
Life is enriched by art, and it is the trigger that starts us off on a journey.
It has been 8 years since Image Tunnel has been at M50, Shanghai. It has been a solid 8 years of support and hard work. Over the course, a project has been in the making, following and recording the process and life of young independent filmmakers. The first installment of our documentary series has been completed. “No. 1: The Freedom of an Idealistic Kite” (2012, 45 minutes) has been selected for the 2012 New York ReelChina Chinese Contemporary Documentary Festival.
It is our second time to have been selected to participate in the festival.
Copyright Image Tunnel & Artists
Contact us: imagetunnel2012@126.com
www. imagetunnel com www. imagetunnel org www. suzhoucreek com
Sina microblogging:http://weibo.com/imagetunnel
Douban station:http://site.douban.com/imagetunnel.com
Buy tickets: http://it19.taobao.com/?spm=2013.1.1000126.21.ef382b
15921019461 Professor Han
ImageTunnel
Bldg.19.1-4F.No.50 Moganshan Rd.200060 Shanghai, China
ImageTunnel• 设计• 故事
从无声开始(缘起19号楼)
在苏州河边上,处于出名的M50创意园区里,在一个不显眼的角落是一个神秘 的小木屋-19号楼。它并不抢眼,但是充满了神秘色彩,最让人好奇的是一个 小的招牌《ImageTunnel:上海最小的电影院》。谁也想不到,这19号楼的主 人就是在2002年起传奇地保护了M50,在木屋里建立了电影院,和中国年轻 的独立影像人开始纪录这个永远在变的城市-上海。他们用他们的时间,心血, 热情来纪录整个上海的变迁:《东方的塞纳左岸》由此诞生。东方的塞纳左岸—苏州河沿岸的艺术仓库
IMAGETUNNLE是年轻的,同时也是肩负责任的民间媒介,深信生活因为艺术 而灵动起来,让艺术真正渗透人类生活,让人文沟通引领人生境界。
上海许多资源流传在民间,并且还在不断地遗失……消失的市井,消失的苏州河 沿岸的建筑……于是,开始了地毯式的影像纪录整个上海。
上海最小的电影院,支持中国年轻的独立影像人
•2005 年中国电影诞辰100周年,ImageTunnel苏州河怀旧艺术节-----14场复兴非物质文化遗产,
支持中国年轻的独立影像,让古老的昆剧与默剧相约苏州河左岸。
•2007 年,“上海最小的电影院”每周末推出中国独立影像放映,并与导演交流研讨,同时推出会
员卡2010张。
•2007 年6月16日,纪念中国电影102年周年,19幢楼的ImageTunnel楼下露天电影,主题
TouchtheDream现场点起了蜡烛,摇曳的烛光,那么真切,却不能去触摸,似乎,梦想也是一样。
但是,我们却要触摸梦想,哪怕被灼伤,也在所不惜。
•2008 年6月14日下午,ImageTunnel阿拉ART沙龙,纪念中国电影诞生103周年。我们播
放了年轻的独立电影的片花,导演来到现场与我们推出了ImageTunnel之星挂件。
• 纪录片《梦想的彼岸》,入选纽约•上海2008第四届REELCHINA当代中国纪录片双年展。
从2004到2010,策划放映了100多部中国年轻的独立电影,影像展览30多次,聚集新生代原创 电影人、摄影师、音乐人、诗人等。
2009年在法国里昂,正巧遇上世界电影回顾展,于是来自遥远东方的影像平台imagetunnel魔都上海与电影的发明者卢米埃尔兄弟在一个雨天邂逅,跨越时 空无声的交流着对电影的共同情感……这天,是欧洲文化遗产纪念日。
花精灵的来源:成为团队志愿者的故事
神奇的是,19号楼的花精灵,变成了栩栩如生真实的“花精灵”;一群80后精灵般的大学生来到19号楼, 一起关注、记录上海正在进行的变幻。2007年,他们化身为致力本土文化崛起的展翅花精灵。而Image Tunnel也成为唯一独特的艺术与文献于一体的影像资料库。花精灵走在世博前夕
一次的突发奇想,把一个蓝色的花精灵缠绕着红纱,带进2010世博工地,无意地介入这个时代,见证了世 博前夕的发展。于是,不同的花精灵进入了上海世博会的工地、神秘的古宅、艺术仓库等。
她们成为富有传奇见证城市的一个个角色,随韩妤齐经历了这城市的变迁、发展……由玩偶演变成有真实生 命的历程,梦幻的梦,真实的经历,融入了时代神奇的变幻。
漂流瓶 传播爱的使者
2007起航-漂流瓶之旅
2007年2月10日两只装着美好心愿与梦想的漂流瓶传入了苏州河,代表着倒计时2-1-0起 航•2007•ImageTunnel,预示着新生代本土文化的“起航”……志愿者团队由此诞生。
2008-1001对漂流瓶
2008年8月7日(星期四)农历7月7日七夕情人节,展现了浓厚的中国情结,而这天也恰逢奥运 的前夜。
七夕鹊桥,1001对漂流瓶架起流动的桥梁——异国实习生的千里上海缘。
瓶中缘,有缘千里来相会——“一千零一对”神秘缘,演绎现代都市童话。
七夕中国情人节,七夕月夜星光灿烂,苏州河畔寻觅奇缘。
ImageTunnel9月9日www.suzhoucreek.com网站开通
通过1001对ImageTunnel漂流瓶在上海的母亲河苏州河左岸19Art缘起的故事,致力于传播中国 的文化与世界文化相连的精髓,苏州河就象一条腾越的红线,通向全世界——牵引国际性多元文化艺 术的融合!
ImageTunnel漂流瓶—许多漂流瓶已经陆续有了主人,也有加入台湾、德国等。
“瓶”水“香”逢,爱的使者
2010年2月10日ImageTunnel起航三周年,韩老师在小屋找到了以前自己制作的2007年起航 的船票,来自台湾、澳大利亚等学者不期而遇地上了ImageTunnel起航号,幸运的得到了“起航”船票, 大家相信这是缘分!于是世界创意产业话题在此交流与沟通,ImageTunnel漂流瓶、香水、希望之星“,爱心种子”“爱心叶”“花精灵”“隧道戒指”丝巾,风筝,等成为传递中国新生代文化理念的载体!
2009 年推出水晶“爱心种子”在长大
爱心种子的想法源自于一场邂逅,2009年的春节,把一些水晶专家的目光引向19号木屋——水晶 要有种子,需要呵护才能发芽长大。它具有灵性,佛教里称它为“菩萨石”,不少人相信它有记忆功能, 更多的人为它的纯净所打动。
ImageTunnel 自2005年诞生以来,怀揣着振兴本土文化的梦想,携手几代人,希望通过不懈的努力, 让爱心发芽,让水晶见证。
2009年4月ImageTunnel“爱心种子”品牌诞辰,1001个小小的“爱心种子”中,包含了 ImageTunnel希望之星。
2009年6月1日儿童节ImageTunnel“爱心种子”9颗天然水晶版诞生!并刻有20090601字 体纪念版。
香水2009-2010
以新生代文化崛起为概念的原创艺术品牌ImageTunnel于2009 年圣诞之际,推出首款以“19Art”命名的艺术香水。“19Art” 暗喻了ImageTunnel的品牌创立地——香调糅合了果香与木香 的醇美,持久而悠远,独具东方神韵。它的味道弥漫在空气里, 孕育潺潺地流淌的苏州河。晶莹剔透的香水玻璃瓶体由手工打磨而 成,犹如活水凝聚而成的涟漪,经典的魔方造型,其创意初衷来自 对上海这一“魔都”的理解。此外,与中国传统九宫格有着异曲同 工之妙的魔方。
同期推出的“19Art”玫瑰限量版艺术香水,纪念2010年2月
14日中国新年春节与西方情人节双历合日的历法奇观,同时也配 合2010Expo上海世博,限量2010瓶。此款玫瑰限量版“19Art”, 香气是天然的玫瑰为主调……同时,承载香水的手工玻璃魔方瓶, 更以独特的魅惑紫而堪比天然的紫水晶,更具珍藏价值。
目前这款香水已进入法国、英国、美国、澳大利亚、马来西亚、台 湾等……由国内外艺术家参与艺术魔宫对话,有导演、画家、艺术 总监、音乐人、建筑师等,成为艺术香水的引领代言人。
19ART魔宫的每个细节都是一个故事
艺术家韩妤齐创作了独一无二却又幻化于世界每个角落的魔宫形 象,同时,它又是魔都上海的一个表征,众生万象的精粹,组成了 九宫魔方的每个华丽的块面。
2009年2月14日情人节,我们把9号漂流瓶作为香水故事的载 体,之后我们发现19Art所发生的魔力,以至我们在80@08摄 影展海报,空间的介绍、明信片等一直用到九宫格的设计,香水瓶 子造型的方案最后以九宫格魔宫定局。
有一天,美国实习生汤姆发现19Art的走廊上的窗就是九宫格, 大家又发现里面的门也是九宫格,19Art有九个空间,作为穿越时 空隧道4层3梯2屋顶又是九。ImageTunnel自2002-2010 年为城市,让生活更美好的目标历经又是九年,有意思的是,中国 世博会的会馆顶就是九宫格。 九宫格体现古老而神秘的中国的博大精深,奥妙无穷!
2011年法国资深品牌策划人来到了19号小屋,看到了九宫格香 水,看到了水晶制作的doublehappy爱心种子,非常惊讶!' you are charming and elegant!'于是, 香水和他一起回到巴黎,在香谢丽舍的show off paris独立展上 介绍放映。
19ART 引领未来 生命、艺术、生活
ImageTunnel——19Art,以个性化的视角,传播、演绎着当代文化艺术的理念。ImageTunnel以 其7年不懈的公益性努力,行走在上海的城市生命线上,在建筑、艺术、影像、设计等学术领域无声 地践行自己的信念。
如果把艺术想象成一朵浪漫而美丽的花,那么建筑师、画家、雕塑家、摄影师、设计师就是其中的一 瓣灵性的花瓣,一瓣灵性的花瓣再独特,也没有一瓣瓣花瓣一起聚拢静心,灵性成精,从颤动的花蕾 到和弦的舒展到激情怒放而灵动精彩!
生活因为艺术而灵动起来,生命精彩的旅程由此展开。
ImageTunnel 在上海M50,推介支持新生代独立电影已有8年,一直在记录跟踪年轻独立影人的 拍摄与生活状况。ImageTunnel跟踪纪录片系列:独立影人纪实第一部《一只风筝的自由主义理想》
2012/45分钟入选2012纽约ReelChina中国当代纪录片双年展
版权归ImageTunnel及艺术家
ImageTunnel
中国上海莫干山路50号19号楼1-4层,200060