Cao Yang Dreaming

In Shanghai, and Cao Yang* in particular, I am fascinated by the way people appropriate public space. One of the striking visual elements of this appropriation is the laundry, colourful canvases changing everyday in the street. The different designs of bed-sheets are eloquent about their owners. They are like flags, but at the same time very personal, providing a layer of protective warmth for sleeping, dreaming individuals or couples.



The traces of texts above the doors of the apartments (毛主席万岁, long life for Chairman Mao), the slogans spread around in the city on banners and the title of the world expo ‘Better City Better Life’; all of these elements made me wonder what the inhabitants of Cao Yang might want to highlight or celebrate in their neighbourhood. What improvements are they dreaming of? And what could Better City, Better Life mean for them?



The initial proposal of ‘Cao Yang Dreaming’ would involve Cao Yang residents to have their own personal slogans sewn onto bed-sheets, in expressions of dreams of other possible realities for Cao Yang. Instead of being permanent statements inscribed onto walls, these slogans would appear irregularly in the neighbourhood as part of the daily laundry routine.



Students and teachers from Shanghai University appropriated this idea and invited Cao Yang residents to respond to the proposal and created a sketch for this work. The resulting 472 slogans were virtually identical to official messages on signs, posters and banners that are ubiquitous in Chinese public space, usually rules and regulations due to censorship from local authorities.



This process resulted in a manifestation of Cao Yang Dreaming, involving quotations from public signage in Cao Yang sewn onto bed-sheets. Instead of revealing private thoughts in public these inscriptions insinuate officialdom into a private space.
   

The booklet Cao Yang Dreaming


*Caoyang residential district, the first residential apartments project for model workers, was developed in 1951. Based on the idea of serving the housing needs of workers, these apartments were completed in 1952. It was a great honor for "Advanced Production Workers" and "Model Workers" to move into Caoyang as a reward for their splendid contributions to society. In the first stage of development there were 48 apartment buildings and 1000 families in residence. Now there is a combined total of 718 two-storey, six-storey, and high-rise apartment buildings. The total area is 1,700,000 square meters. It is a major residential complex in the west downtown area of Shanghai. Caoyang residential area was also selected as the first green and beautiful urban area in Shanghai. Green coverage in Caoyang district is now 34%. This district has won many national honors, including two Model District awards for excellence in community spirit-focused architecture and environmental design. This district has been open for foreigners' visits since 1953. More than 150,000 people from 140 counties including prime ministers, international government officers, and other high-profile guests have visited Caoyang.