Life> Travel

Fringe takes center stage

By Mu Qian (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-13 09:45

A parade opens the Shenzhen Bay International Fringe Festival, the first of its kind in the southern metropolis. [Photo/Kuang Siming /China Daily]

Shenzhen is boosting its cultural profile with an innovative fringe festival. Mu Qian reports.

African djembe drummers, martial arts performers, break-dancers and even animal protection volunteers were part of a boisterous parade on Shenzhen Bay avenue in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on Dec 4. When the parade arrived at Haide Square, MCs announced the opening of the Shenzhen Bay International Fringe Festival, the first of its kind in the southern metropolis. "In Chinese culture there is a tradition of parades, but mostly for military and religious purposes. What we are doing is a different kind of parade. The most important thing, I tell participants, is "Keep it cool!" says American artist Chad Leslie, director of the Shenzhen Bay International Fringe Festival parade, who has directed similar parades in Macao and Taipei.

From Dec 4 to 12, the Shenzhen Bay International Fringe Festival presents a variety of events, including a crossover concert by Tuvan throat-singing group Huun-Huur-Tu and Hong Kong sound artist Dickson Dee, an improvised drama by the students of Shenzhen University, a flash mob by local animal protection volunteers, performance art/dance by the Made in J-Town group of Shandong province, and the premiere of a new film titled Thomas Mao made by novelist Zhu Wen.

These events are being held at a number of Shenzhen's public spaces, mostly outdoor venues like squares, parks and shopping malls. Nearly all the events are free of charge.

"This festival is not meant to showcase high arts, but to get more people involved in arts and provide a platform for cultural diversity," says Zhu Decai, executive director of the Shenzhen Bay International Fringe Festival.

The concept of a fringe festival originated in Edinburgh, 1947, when eight art groups that were not invited to participate at the Edinburgh International Festival decided to organize their own performances.

The idea has since been adopted as a term for alternative arts, and fringe festivals that now take place around the world.

A Fringe Shanghai was begun in 2006, and a Beijing Fringe Festival that focuses on theater started in 2008.

Shenzhen, which celebrates its 30th anniversary as a special economic zone this year, is not well known for its culture, but Zhu argues that today's Shenzhen residents are now in a better position to enjoy cultural events thanks to its economic development.

Zhu believes Shenzhen has a unique personality that will help the growth of his festival.

"A city of immigrants, Shenzhen is a meeting point for people from all over China and has an open and tolerant atmosphere that is suitable for a fringe festival," Zhu says.

With financial support from Shenzhen's Nanshan district government, the festival is organized by a group of local artists. Zhu says the 20-plus events of the fringe festival cost less than other largescale events previously held in the city.

A number of performance groups from nearby Hong Kong and Macao are also taking part.

"The integration of diverse cultural forms is a vital part of an international city, and the Shenzhen Bay International Fringe Festival is a good start," says Hong Kong sound artist Dickson Dee, who gave an open-air concert at Haide Square in Shenzhen.

A cutting-edge artist, Dee wants to play to more than just audiences in small clubs.

"When a variety of sounds can be heard by people walking in the street, people's cultural horizons will widen, and the overall cultural quality of a city will improve," Dee says.

With the theme "everywhere is art, everybody is an artist", the festival intends to get everyone involved.

"We all have creativity within us and we all have a fundamental need to express ourselves through arts and creative languages. It's part of the human spirit," says festival parade director Leslie.

"I hope in the future we will have time to do more workshops with the local community to develop the vision completely. When we give people more opportunities they will get more involved. The fringe festival is for both performers and audiences."

More than 20 events were held as part of the festival. [Photo/Kuang Siming /China Daily]