rpeckham's Photos

Electro musician on Neocha

This photo is Public

Presented by Wangba Records

This photo is Public

Floating Chinese Musicians is a sound installation and media archive of 30 folk musicians who are preserving a dying tradition while surviving on China’s periphery. Since March 2008, WAZA has concentrated on the reality within China’s inland regions and has had extensive contact with roaming folk musicians to document their lives, performances and creative process. After compiling an extensive archive of primary materials including photographs, sound recordings, video and text, WAZA has selected 30 musicians who roam the country performing in parks and public spaces to represent China’s migrant or “floating” population. This project aims not only to preserve their voices and raise awareness about a disappearing art form, but also sheds light on one of the most controversial and sensitive social problems in modern China. Since the beginning of China’s economic reform period, which began in1979, the nation has embarked on a modernization campaign at an unprecedented rate. China’s race to modernize has focused on the first tier cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou while the inland regions have been neglected, leaving many people isolated from social and economic development. Floating Chinese Musicians brings these issues to light. Self-taught and influenced by growing up during the height of economic reform in Wuhan, a second tier city, WAZA is attempting to preserve a tradition while drawing attention to the “floating” population that is being cast-aside. Floating Chinese Musicians is created from recycled wood, mp3 players, speakers, sound recordings and a metal frame. A bilingual catalogue is being produced to archive the documented materials, production process and public viewing in Wuhan.

This photo is Public

By Feng Chi-shun

This photo is Public