In 2005, a Dorset based British town planner sent his Chinese counterpart a Christmas card with an image of Dorchester on its cover. When the man in Sichuan Province received the card, he was so inspired that he set about building a replica Dorchester on the outskirts of Chengdu, China.
Part two of my trilogy, Family Village, will explore this recent trend in China, where satellite towns are built, based on traditional English countryside lifestyles - with a focus on the vernacular architecture found in provincial towns in areas such as Dorset and Hampshire.
This has been the basis of my residency for ArtSway. When I was interviewed for the residency back in early Spring 08, I had proposed to develop Family Village, given the fact I would be within easy reach to the Dorchester many people know to exist in Dorset, UK.
My time with ArtSway got into full swing on the 1st of May, and since then, I have totally immersed myself in developing a new video investigating both Dorchester's, and how this might relate to the term Family Village.
To make these links, I intend to add several layers to the video. For instance, I am looking into re-appropriating a series of illustrations from the 1950's, originally used in China as propaganda during the decade known as 'The Great Leap Forward.' In that period, many comics were used to galvanise the masses, as the characters depicted in the little booklets depicted heroic figures fighting for the nation's cause.
Inevitably, I will be visiting Chengdu's Dorchester at some point in the near future. Whilst there, I will also visit Sichuan's famous bamboo forest. Many villagers in China will tell you "bamboo made China." Clearly there is a link between such a strong statement and the title Family Village.
