Day Seventeen
Li Gang was taking photographs from the moving car
on the way to the market. He was meeting two Belgian
fabric designers to help them with a project so we
agreed to go our separate ways and meet at a
designated spot at 10:15 a.m. I went initially to
the furniture antiques area. Almost all of the
pieces in the “antique market” are brand new
reproductions. Old in this section of the market is
something from 1950, especially when you realize the
impact of the cultural revolution on fine furniture.
I understand that what furniture was not destroyed
was stored in government warehouses. It was
eventually redistributed, primarily to rural farmers
who used the furniture in their daily lives. Years
ago I had visited a number of antique restorers in a
special section of Beijing and if I wanted
legitimate gu I would have to go there. I then got
some “antique” handled calligraphy brushes for
office gifts, two Mao watches for gifts for Hannah
and Ruben, a small bone traveling chess set for
Ruben, on the assumption that he is willing to learn
chess one day. I then went through the painting area
again and saw a stall with reproductions of
advertising posters from the 1920s and 1930s. I
could not resist.
Li Gang decided to take a different exit out, so we
could look some more. When we got there the gate was
closed, so we continued to walk until we could find
an exit. In the interim I brought a bronze shoe horn
that looked like it was from the 1930s. Outside the
exit were a number of poor people who were offering
one or two items. All of a sudden they all packed up
their goods. Apparently you need a license to sell
goods in that area. Three minutes later everyone was
smiling and the wares were out on the towels,
The taxi waited for me to put in the luggage and off
I went to the Beijing airport. My studio is to be
completed by August 15, 2007 and I would like Leslie
to participate with me in this exciting new
adventure.
Charles Hecht
Lane 5, Unit09
318 Art Park Village
Hegezhuang, Chaoyang District, Beijing,1001102,
China
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