Wuhan, August 2020. Photos: Wu Jing.
We caught up again with Wu Jing 吴静, a painter and performance artist based in Wuhan whose studio we visited for an interview in our Wuhan Creative City Guide video. This article shares a conversation continued through April and May over WeChat during the initial pandemic outbreak lockdown in Wuhan, accompanied by photographs of the city taken by the artist in August, after the city re-opened.
China Residencies: Hi Wu Jing! How have you been?
Wu Jing: Hi! I'm happy to talk to you. I am doing fine and am healthy, although I have not yet returned fully to a regular life. I am just trying to do the things I can do at the moment.
CR: Can you tell us where you are at the moment?
WJ: I am in my studio in Wuhan.
CR: You were inside for a long time in March and April. How many days have you been staying inside?
WJ: When we all were isolating a few months ago, I was staying at home and haven’t left my home for around more than 60 days.
CR: Can you tell us how it felt for you when the lockdown in Wuhan was announced? Where were you during that time, and what were your initial reactions?
WJ: I had just returned to Wuhan from Berlin on January 18th. The lockdown happened from one moment to another, so suddenly. It happened right after they discovered that the virus was more contagious than previously assumed. For me, the flight from Berlin to Wuhan felt normal. When I landed in Wuhan, everything felt normal. I went to Xiangyang (a neighboring city) with my best friend on the 20th. I was still recovering from jet lag, and did not have any understanding about the virus. As soon as I heard about the lockdown in the city, I was shocked and knew this was something serious.
CR: How have you been coping with being confined at home? What were your initial feelings when it started, and how has it changed over time?
WJ: In the first few days of lockdown, I was still dealing with jet lag. After I had gotten back on track and used to this timezone again, I started following how the virus was developing in the city. Facing an unknown illness, people were caught up in all kinds of fear and worries. I was a witness to such painful experiences by people who were infected. Despite the fact that hospitals faced a great shortage of medical supplies and PPE, the doctors and staff worked day and night with all they had to treat as many patients as they could. I’ve seen uncountable compassionate volunteers trying to find ways to get supplies to the hospitals, to help the doctors and healthcare staff working on the frontline, and to support the patients, which touched me deeply. Then, I started to organize financial donations together with my classmates from the art academy to get PPE delivered for the hospitals. For a full month, I was looking for supplies everywhere in the world and asking for the prices, and learned a lot about the difference the types of PPE, their functions, and qualitative differences. When, for the first time I had gathered enough money to get the right type of PPE, I was unable to buy them. I started getting anxious and depressed. So many people were getting infected every day and passing away, it made us feel powerless.
I would say this period has impacted my life very much. At the same time, I have also learned so much from it. I am thankful for the friends who believed in me and who gave me the strength to do everything we did during that time, but maybe I haven't done enough.
CR: Thank you so much for everything you tried to do! It's been the same scramble all around the world to find PPE for medical teams and first responders, almost nowhere seemed properly prepared. And thank you giving us an insight into your life and feelings in lockdown, I cannot imagine the hardships you have been going through.
WJ: This virus is neither humankind’s only existential threat, nor is it the only social problem which exists in our world. No matter what stage society and humankind has reached, in the end, this is still a man-made chapter. I think this is less about people having learned to wash their hands often or respecting basic personal or public hygiene codes-of-conduct. Rather, this showed us a great deal about the need for introspection, our true needs and wants in life, and what we want to work towards as a society. Lastly, it is about humankind learning to better take care of nature, the living creatures, and the whole world.
CR: On the 7th of April 2020, the lockdown was lifted in Wuhan. Still, it seems like not everybody can move freely around, and many are staying home. What is your outlook on the next few weeks or months? Are you planning to leave the city?
WJ: For me, Wuhan is home. Unless work or education calls me somewhere else, I will never leave the city.
CR: With the epidemic turned into a pandemic, people are staying home around the globe. Do you have any tips for them?
WJ: I think a lot of people have already been learning and giving their best tips from home! You will notice the small things and find joy at home, which has inspired me a lot. Seeking out these small joys also makes everybody staying at home a bit happier and comfortable, given the background of the pandemic. The best method to face uncertainties and difficulties is always to have a positive and optimistic outlook, in my opinion.
CR: You spent your entire life almost in Wuhan. What was it like growing up?
WJ: The place where I grew up is called Hengdian, a small district in Wuhan. My childhood memories were filled with curiosity. I remember riding my bicycle through wide tree-lined streets and small alleyways. We would read all kinds of books with fiends, from classical literature to comic books, really everything. There was also big movie theater in this small district. One of my mother's close friends' whole family used to work at the cinema, so my sister would often take me with her into the projection room. We would either cut the films or watch movies. Later on, the theater moved to the neighboring district, and I would regularly spend my summer and winter holidays there. I remember the time happily. For university, I went on to study at the Hubei Institute of Fine Arts (HIFA), which is in the city center of Wuhan.
CR: Can you tell us a bit about the artist community in the city?
WJ: Wuhan has brought out some of the best artistic talents in the past. But because it's been considered a "second-tier" city, it had less opportunities than bigger cities. People from here move to "first-tier" cities, like other talented folks from all over the country. This leads to a loss of talented creatives, since everyone moved away. Recently, Wuhan was promoted to a first-tier city, so things are changing. Young artists are now moving here and are building things up. I think the artist community will only get better and better.
CR: How is it to live in the city as an artist? How would you describe Wuhan?
WJ: The people of Wuhan love to eat. With this, Wuhan has a delicious cuisine, and food plays an important role for the artists. Wuhan itself has also a history of being a cultural center. It has the most universities in the world and is a major city with young people. The well-known Yangtze River flows through the city, Wuhan has a huge number of lakes: 166 lakes! And this city is the major juncture of nine provinces (九省通衢). Wuhanese people are warm and welcoming, but also hot-headed. People say Wuhan girls are beautiful, they love fashion and they love to dress up. Every time I introduce Wuhan to foreign friends, I tell them that Wuhan is the "Chicago of the East." It is much like a younger version of Shanghai - if Shanghai was an attractive woman in her 35-40s, then Wuhan is the counterpart - an energetic young girl in her 20s.
My working routine as an artist is usually the same, regardless of being in Wuhan, another city in China, or in another country. I work on my artworks and create, I visit the galleries and museums and keep up with exhibitions and shows. I am an observer of the city’s flow and daily grind, I wander the streets and alleyways for delicious food, and enjoy taking in the natural environment around the city.
CR: Wuhan is a city with such rich and old history. I’ve only passed it on the train on one of my journeys. The city seemed to be floating on lakes when we passed by. Since Wuhan was put together from three cities, how are the different neighborhoods and what makes them so diverse from each other?
WJ: Wuhan used to be made up of these three areas: Hankou, Wuchang, and Hanyang. Roughly speaking, Hankou is the financial district, Wuchang the cultural district, and Hanyang the economic development zone. But in truth, Wuhan consists of 13 districts. Next to Hankou, Wuchang, and Hanyang, there are also areas for tourism, archaeology, agriculture, forestry and fishery, mining, and industrial areas.
CR: Can you tell us a bit about your background?
WJ: Sure! I graduated from the Oil Painting Department of Hubei Institute of Fine Arts. After graduating, I worked different art jobs: I've been an assistant to artists, I worked in galleries and at two universities, while continuing my own work as an artist. So far, I have participated in projects and exhibitions in China, Europe and America.
CR: Are there any projects you would like to talk about?
WJ: Before the epidemic, a curator friend and I gave a lecture on the Wuhan art scene in Weimar, Germany. We were promoting an art exchange project for Wuhan artists in Germany. I hope to have more opportunities to participate in and promote local and international cultural and artistic projects after the pandemic.
Update in August:
China Residencies: Since the last time we spoke, a few months have passed. Now, the situation in China seems to have mostly recovered. I am curious, how has the living and working situation changed for you and your peers - compared to prior the outbreak?
Wu Jing: For all of us, the movement between places used to be much easier. For the time being, we can’t go abroad. Wuhan is safe now, as are most cities within China. People are still wearing the masks in crowded public areas and are very conscious about it. The weather is very hot at the moment, and still it feels like everyone wearing the face masks diligently. It's become the newest fashion accessory. I still remind myself to not go outside often, and if I do, I go to lesser crowded areas for a walk, get my art supplies, or spend more time reflecting and thinking by myself. My friends and artist peers are in the same state at the moment, I would say.
China Residencies: Looking back at our conversation in April and May, how have your feelings changed since then?
Wu Jing: I've become more peaceful. I want to fall in love, get married, and live an ordinary, simple and content life. I want to enjoy the beautiful parts of this world together with my mother, my other half, and the important people in my life. In the end, our time on earth is limited. Everything we want to express, all deep love and compassion, can only come to be within our limited lifespans.
中国艺术交流：吴静你好! 很感谢你能接受我们的采访。你最近都好吗？
吴静：你好，我也非常开心接受你的采访。我还好，健康，还没有完全恢复正常的生活，但尽可能的做些自己可以做的事。
中国艺术交流：你能告诉我你目前在哪里吗？
吴静：我在武汉自己的工作室里。
中国艺术交流：我们3月份联系的时候，疫情还很严重，大家都被隔离在家里。你在家里待了多长时间？
吴静：之前隔离期间，我在家呆了两个多月没有出门，60多天。
中国艺术交流：你能告诉我武汉封城是怎么样发生的吗？你当时在哪里，你当时的反应是什么？
吴静：武汉封锁是在发现病毒传染开始严重后突然发生的。我刚好1月18号从柏林回到武汉，柏林到武汉的飞机正常，我回到武汉，武汉一切也正常。20号和闺蜜去到了襄阳，那几天我还在倒时差，对病毒并不了解。但是当听到武汉封锁的时候非常震惊，知道情况严重了。
中国艺术交流：在家里待了那么长时间，是怎么过的？ 开始的感觉是什么，过几个星期后变化是什么？
吴静：最开始几天我在倒时差，倒完时差我就开始关注疫情在武汉的发展，我看到了武汉在面对这个未知的病毒时陷入的各种恐慌，和感染病毒的人们各种痛苦的遭遇，医院医生们各种缺乏医疗物资，依然日以继夜地竭尽全力地挽救所有的病患。我看到很多热血的志愿者想方设法地为医院寻找医疗物资，去帮助一线抗战的医生、工作人员和生病的人，内心非常感动。然后我开始了和我的大学同学们一起捐资金为医院和需要的人寻找购买医疗物资，接下来的一个多月里我满世界的没日没夜的看物资、询价、学会辨别物质类别、功能和质量，头一次经历拿着钱但是非常难买到需要的物资，内心特别沮丧和着急，每天眼睁睁看着很多人感染、死去，自己感觉非常无力。这对我来说也是人生一个重大的打击和学习。我非常感谢信任我的朋友们，他们给了我力量去做很多事情，只是可能我做得还不够好。
中国艺术交流： 谢谢你告诉了我们你当时的经历，我无法想象你们经历的艰辛。除了这些，还有哪些需要补充的吗？
吴静：这次病毒不是人类唯一的生存威胁，也不是唯一的社会问题。无论人类社会发展到一个什么状态，其实都是人为造成的一个阶段性的结果，我想人类不光是简单学会了要勤洗手、注重个人和公共卫生，更多的是内省，去思考自己对生活的内需，对人的内心、对自然、对生命和对世界的关怀。
中国艺术交流：截至今天（2020年4月7号，星期三），武汉市的封锁已解除。不过，似乎并不是每个人都可以自由走动，许多人仍待在家里。 在接下来的几周和几个月里你计划是什么？你打算离开武汉还是继续待在那里？
吴静：对我来说，武汉是家，会继续待在武汉。除非工作和学习的调动。
中国艺术交流：现在疫情在全球爆发，你有什么建议给其他城市和地方应为疫情在家里待着的人们吗？
吴静：我觉得很多人在家已经做得很好了，他们竭尽全力的在家里寻找乐趣，非常启发我，也让人们在沉闷的疫情环境里轻松快乐起来。最好的面对困难的状态永远都是积极而乐观的人生态度吧。
中国艺术交流：你是在武汉长大的，对吗？能跟我们介绍一下这座城市吗？在那里从小长大是什么感觉？
吴静：对，我出生在武汉，从小在武汉长大，当时我住的地方是武汉的一个小镇横店，儿时里的小镇满满是充满好奇地学习，骑着自行车在绿荫大道和小巷飞奔，和几个要好的朋友一起看漫画，一起看小说、世界名著等各类书籍。小镇有一个很大的电影院，因为妈妈很好的朋友全家都在电影院工作，所以姐姐经常带着我在电影院的放映室里剪电影胶片、放电影，后来她们搬到旁边的小镇，我依然每年寒暑假都会去她们工作生活的另外的电影院度过我的寒暑假，非常快乐！长大以后就在位于武汉市中心的湖北美术学院学习艺术。
中国艺术交流：武汉的艺术圈子是怎么样的？
吴静：从武汉出来的艺术人才很多，但是毕竟以前这只是个二线城市，没有移民大城市的公平和多样性，之前不断在流失人才，但现在晋升为一线城市，多了很多年轻的艺术家，城市的建设和活力，艺术圈的发展我相信会越来越好。
中国艺术交流：作为一个艺术家在武汉生活是什么感觉呢？你认为武汉艺术圈子有什么特色？
吴静：武汉人爱吃，所以武汉有很多美食，这对艺术家来说是非常重要的。武汉本身也是一个历史文化重地，全世界大学最多，年轻面貌最多的城市，有着著名的长江，166个湖泊，九省通衢，人们热情火辣。武汉的女孩儿很漂亮，爱时尚爱打扮。我经常和我的外国朋友们介绍，武汉是东方的芝加哥，是年轻的上海，如果说上海是一位35-40岁非常有魅力的女性，那么武汉就是20多岁年轻的充满朝气的漂亮女孩。其实无论是在武汉还是在其它城市或国家，我的日常都是工作、做创作、观察所处城市的每天的变化、去美术馆画廊看展览、去大街小巷寻找美食、去自然环境里散步。
中国艺术交流：武汉是一座历史悠久的城市，可惜我从来没去过。只是坐火车经过时从窗户外面看到了很多湖。武汉是由三个不同的城市部分组成的，这三个市区区别是什么？
吴静：以前是武汉三镇：汉口、武昌、汉阳，大致可以分为汉口是金融区、武昌是文化区、汉阳是经济开发区，但现在其实武汉是有13个区域，除了汉口、武昌、汉阳，还有旅游、考古、农林渔业、矿产、工业区域。
中国艺术交流：你能跟我们介绍一下你的背景吗？
吴静：我是毕业于湖北美术学院油画系，毕业后就一直在从事艺术工作，给艺术家做助理、在画廊工作、在两所大学工作，自己做艺术创作，到目前为止在中国、欧洲和美洲做过展览和艺术项目。
中国艺术交流：你有哪些项目想谈的吗？
吴静：疫情之前我和一个策展人朋友一起在德国魏玛做了关于武汉艺术生态的讲座，我们正在促进一个武汉艺术家在德国的艺术交流项目。我希望有更多的机会来参加和促进本土化和国际化的文化艺术项目。
八月的后续谈话：
中国艺术交流：从我们上一次谈话到现在已经过了几个月，现在中国的疫情已经得到控制，想了解一下你和你的同伴现在的工作和疫情前的工作相比有什么变化？
吴静：疫情前行动很自由，现在国外暂时我们都没法去，武汉现在很安全，国内大部分地区很安全，公共场合人多的地方大家还都是很自觉地戴着口罩，天气很炎热，口罩依然像一个时尚配饰一样跟随着大家，我会尽量提醒自己少出门，出门也是尽量去人烟稀少的地方散步，捕捉自己需要的创作素材，自己宅起来独立思考的时间变得更多。其他艺术家朋友们也差不多状态吧。
中国艺术交流：从现在的角度看，对我们五月份的谈话，你有更新的感受吗？
吴静：内心更加平静。想去谈恋爱，结婚，过平凡简单幸福的日子，和我的母亲，和人生的另一半，和我生命里重要的朋友们一起多去看看这个世界美丽的部分。毕竟生命的时间有限，自己能表达出来的热爱只能在有限的生命里实现。
This interview was conducted in Chinese and translated by Xiaoyao Xu for China Residencies in April, May, and August 2020.
With the current pandemic and the ongoing travel restrictions worldwide, people have been finding ways to keep in touch with artists and friends online, since they can't meet up in person. In lieu of our annual research trip, we are revisiting spaces we've met in the past seven years through in depth interviews over WeChat until we can meet again.
All photos courtesy of Wu Jing, 2020.