Art In The Age Of Human Reproduction

Oh what lies beneath. Procure a painting of a Picasso, Van Gogh (a local favourite), or of The Chairman himself at any number of local art streets or markets. Ms. Lee refers to these as 'homage markets'.

Comme To Me

Japanese fashion designer Rei Kawakubo's new Comme des Garçons collection for High Street retail giant H&M opened in Shanghai this morning, complete with (possible) Yayoi Kusama inspired polka dot garments and advertising. The store is right outside our front door so we popped in to check out the fuss. Arriving for the 10:00 a.m. opening we found the racks already bare with crowds of the faithful standing around either empty handed or with huge piles of the remnants waiting for the dressing rooms. The store had opened early after young fashionistas started to queue overnight and were apparently dispersed by the local constabulary. Proof that young urban Chinese are just like the boys everywhere else in the fashion universe.

Travelling Exhibit

A recent image from one of Ai Weiwei and Fake Design's new gallery developments in Caochiangdi village on the outskirts of Beijing. We stumbled across this performance in one of the courtyard spaces. With the new rural reforms driving more farmers into the city with hopes of a better income and a present migrant worker population estimated at around 125 million, we're likely to see even more art involving suitcases in the near future.

Pleased To Meet You

An eighty-something Ramones fan atop Jin Mao Tower's 88th floor observation deck.