CHINAME _GERMANY & NETHERLANDS VERSION

CHINAME   is a contemporary theater project started by Xiao Ke x Zi Han in 2018.The two artists began to explore personal identity and national identity in their life experiences. In the current world pattern in which right-leaning nationalism gradually emerges, the artist seeks to reflect on the national community from the individual's anxiety.

For Chinese identity exploration, it is a long and complicated process. Based on different backgrounds, such as sociology, anthropology, history, contemporary international economics and political science, the definition of Chinese is different. The impact of the phenomenon that China is labeled is everywhere in everyday life. For the young generation from mainland China, what is the perception of Chinese? For the young generation of Chinese outside of mainland China, what is their interpretation of the Chinese identity? The two artists tried to look for the commonality of Chinese in different levels of cognition. They seem to be doing a stubborn thing, which is bound to activate a series of sensitive switches.

Is Chinese a community of imagination or is it real? What is Chinese?

The two artists merged CHINA and NAME to recreate CHINAME. Just as we cannot choose how to come to this world, we cannot choose to be given a name, but we are trying to explain who we are.

This project was researched in different regions, and formed exhibition and live performance of various versions in various localities. At the same time, it displays interviews with documentaries and portraits of people. It tries to open a temporary contact zone for Chinese identity.

This is a confusing topic. If Chinese itself is a synonym for confusion, then their live performance is the expression of confusion and honesty.

This project's exhibition including_

Sound intallation. 4 channels mono sound, 6'37"

Documentary film. WHEN WE’RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS CHINESE _2018GE, 35'16"

Photo. CHINAME_2018_GERMANY interview Portraits, 27 pictures.

This is the first version of CHINAME. The creation is based on TAIFUN Project Residenz Niederrhein.

Concept_ Xiao Ke x Zi Han

Performance_ Xiao Ke, Zi Han

Video/Sound_ Zi Han

Producer_ Lico Fang, Marc Franz

Technical Manager_ Vince Dinnissen

Stage Manager_ Peter Cuijpers

Media publicity_ Martijn Erren

Photographer_ Juergen Staack

Cameraman_ Teun Vloet

Co-production_ TAIFUN Project, Roepaen Podium (CHINAME in Roepaen version)

Cooperation_ Theater im Fluss (Kleve)

Funding support by_

European Union (EU): Interreg V-A Program – Germany-The Netherlands,

Ministry of Culture and Science of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia