I had a meeting today with the director and the curator of Artsway. We discussed if it was appropriate for me to go to Chengdu or not. From their point of view, it would be a bad idea (which I was kinda relieved to hear). Not only from the logistical and practical point of view, but also for the fact that it would be insensitive for me to go out there and make art at such a time.
But the thing that really fluxed me, was a subsequent phone call I made to my Chinese fixer. She was born and raised in Chengdu, but left for the UK after the Cultural Revolution. She's responsible for helping me find local travel guides, so I thought I'd better call her to see how Sun Ming, our guide was coping. Although she explained that most people are sleeping in their cars, rather than take the risk of staying in their homes, she also said I should get on with it, and go. Without a hint of humour, she said my life was not worth that much to be so careful about things. I think she believes me to be a wimp!!
I spent an hour or so afterwards trying to digest my fixer's advice before calling KLM to see if I could get a refund for my flight on the 30th of May. But as far as they were concerned, Chengdu Airport is operational and so the best they could do was give me up to the 30th June to take my flight or lose out. I tried to explain that an earthquake had occurred, killing lots of people (and maybe pandas too) and it might not be safe to go there so soon, but I think they were a little bored with me.
What is a life worth?
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