Mosaic of China 英语脱口秀

This week’s guest is the award-winning Chinese playwright Nick Yu, 喻荣军, who juggles his work as a writer alongside his role as Creative Director of the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre. In our conversation, we cover Nick’s two contrasting identities: the sophisticated denizen of the Shanghai arts scene, and the son of a village teacher from the heart of the Chinese countryside. 
 
Nick is no stranger to controversy, and is famous in the Chinese theatre scene for pushing the limits of what can be put on the stage. So we also discuss his creative process, and the way in which he nurtures his imagination without overstepping the boundaries of the China cultural policy. So this episode should be a must-listen for any creators or artists in china who are struggling with temptation of self-censorship.

Nick Yu’s object: His first collection of plays. 

Nick Yu’s favourite WeChat sticker: The happy village boy.
(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Nick Yu’s favourite China fact: Traditional village management. To illustrate this, here are some photos from the nearest town to his village, which is 运漕 (Yùncáo) in 含山 (Hánshān) county, 安徽 (Ānhuī) province.

If Nick Yu left China, he would miss.... Anhui cuisine. For example, 黄山臭桂鱼 - Yellow Mountains stinky mandarin fish.

Nick Yu’s favourite place to hang out: The Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre on Anfu Lu.

The music score for 大实话 (Dà shíhuà), Nick Yu’s favourite song to sing at Karaoke. 

Nick Yu’s selfie with Oscar.

Nick Yu: “Walter Defends Sarajevo”, the film that was very popular in China, and that Nick got in trouble for when he adapted it for the stage. One is the Chinese poster, the other is the original poster from Yugoslavia. 

Nick Yu: A graph from the World Economic Forum which shows the rate of rural depopulation in China versus the other G20 countries. 

This week’s guest is the award-winning Chinese playwright Nick Yu, 喻荣军, who juggles his work as a writer alongside his role as Creative Director of the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre. In our conversation, we cover Nick’s two contrasting identities: the sophisticated denizen of the Shanghai arts scene, and the son of a village teacher from the heart of the Chinese countryside. 
 
Nick is no stranger to controversy, and is famous in the Chinese theatre scene for pushing the limits of what can be put on the stage. So we also discuss his creative process, and the way in which he nurtures his imagination without overstepping the boundaries of the China cultural policy. So this episode should be a must-listen for any creators or artists in china who are struggling with temptation of self-censorship.

Nick Yu’s object: His first collection of plays. 

Nick Yu’s favourite WeChat sticker: The happy village boy.
(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Nick Yu’s favourite China fact: Traditional village management. To illustrate this, here are some photos from the nearest town to his village, which is 运漕 (Yùncáo) in 含山 (Hánshān) county, 安徽 (Ānhuī) province.

If Nick Yu left China, he would miss.... Anhui cuisine. For example, 黄山臭桂鱼 - Yellow Mountains stinky mandarin fish.

Nick Yu’s favourite place to hang out: The Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre on Anfu Lu.

The music score for 大实话 (Dà shíhuà), Nick Yu’s favourite song to sing at Karaoke. 

Nick Yu’s selfie with Oscar.

Nick Yu: “Walter Defends Sarajevo”, the film that was very popular in China, and that Nick got in trouble for when he adapted it for the stage. One is the Chinese poster, the other is the original poster from Yugoslavia. 

Nick Yu: A graph from the World Economic Forum which shows the rate of rural depopulation in China versus the other G20 countries. 

In 2010, Yael Farjun had a chance encounter with someone at the Shanghai Expo, which led her to undertake an amazing research project. We discuss the heroism and humanity of one Chinese man in Vienna, which resulted in an epic migration from Europe to Shanghai. And in so doing, we highlight Shanghai’s unique historical status as a Free Port, and a magnet for people from around the world.  

Yael Farjun’s object: Her wristwatch.

Yael Farjun’s favourite WeChat sticker: An excited Gal Gadot.

Yael Farjun’s favourite word or phrase in Chinese: 哎哟 (Āiyō - Dammit / Oh gosh, expressing astonishment or pain).

Yael Farjun’s favourite place to visit in China: 阳朔 (Yángshuò).

Yael Farjun’s selfie with Oscar.

Yael Farjun: The proportion of Pork produced in China versus other meat. 

Yael Farjun: The Israel Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo.

Yael Farjun: 何凤山 (Ho Feng-Shan), the Chinese Consul General in Vienna, who issued escape visas for many thousands of Jews escaping the Third Reich. 

Yael Farjun: Researching the friends and descendants of the Jewish Refugees to Shanghai. 

In 2010, Yael Farjun had a chance encounter with someone at the Shanghai Expo, which led her to undertake an amazing research project. We discuss the heroism and humanity of one Chinese man in Vienna, which resulted in an epic migration from Europe to Shanghai. And in so doing, we highlight Shanghai’s unique historical status as a Free Port, and a magnet for people from around the world.  

Yael Farjun’s object: Her wristwatch.

Yael Farjun’s favourite WeChat sticker: An excited Gal Gadot.

Yael Farjun’s favourite word or phrase in Chinese: 哎哟 (Āiyō - Dammit / Oh gosh, expressing astonishment or pain).

Yael Farjun’s favourite place to visit in China: 阳朔 (Yángshuò).

Yael Farjun’s selfie with Oscar.

Yael Farjun: The proportion of Pork produced in China versus other meat. 

Yael Farjun: The Israel Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo.

Yael Farjun: 何凤山 (Ho Feng-Shan), the Chinese Consul General in Vienna, who issued escape visas for many thousands of Jews escaping the Third Reich. 

Yael Farjun: Researching the friends and descendants of the Jewish Refugees to Shanghai. 

When I first met today's guest, Sebastien Denes, I liked him immediately. But I did question what kind of content he would be able to bring to this recording. Here was another privileged white male in an executive role on an international career track at a multinational organisation. I have spent a large percentage of my career as an executive headhunter in Asia, and I've seen a thousand people like Sebastien. At least that's what I thought.

I was wrong.

Sebastien Denes’s object: A framed photo from his wife. 

Sebastien Denes’s favourite WeChat sticker: A laughing grandmother.
(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Sebastien Denes: On stage at the “Autism at Work” Panel Discussion with Steve. 

Sebastien Denes’s favourite word or phrase in Chinese: 听不懂 (Tīng bu dǒng - “I don't understand”).

One of the things that still surprises Sebastien Denes about life in China: The Bicycle Graveyards.

Sebastien Denes’s favourite place to visit in China: 九寨沟 (Jiǔzhàigōu) in Sichuan Province.

If Sebastien Denes left China, he wouldn’t miss.... the airline delays. 

Sebastien Denes’s favourite place to eat: Bella Vita.

Sebastien Denes’s best purchase in China: The robot vacuum cleaner.

Sebastien Denes’s selfie with Oscar.

When I first met today's guest, Sebastien Denes, I liked him immediately. But I did question what kind of content he would be able to bring to this recording. Here was another privileged white male in an executive role on an international career track at a multinational organisation. I have spent a large percentage of my career as an executive headhunter in Asia, and I've seen a thousand people like Sebastien. At least that's what I thought.

I was wrong.

Sebastien Denes’s object: A framed photo from his wife. 

Sebastien Denes’s favourite WeChat sticker: A laughing grandmother.
(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Sebastien Denes: On stage at the “Autism at Work” Panel Discussion with Steve. 

Sebastien Denes’s favourite word or phrase in Chinese: 听不懂 (Tīng bu dǒng - “I don't understand”).

One of the things that still surprises Sebastien Denes about life in China: The Bicycle Graveyards.

Sebastien Denes’s favourite place to visit in China: 九寨沟 (Jiǔzhàigōu) in Sichuan Province.

If Sebastien Denes left China, he wouldn’t miss.... the airline delays. 

Sebastien Denes’s favourite place to eat: Bella Vita.

Sebastien Denes’s best purchase in China: The robot vacuum cleaner.

Sebastien Denes’s selfie with Oscar.

“Keep it Quiet” is the name of the semi-public bar at Yongfoo Elite, the private members club located in the diplomatic quarter of Shanghai. So I’m especially grateful that its General Manager, Lori Li, broke her own rules to speak to me in this week’s episode.     

As well as spilling the beans on the club itself, Lori and I talk about Shanghai’s status as a world centre of style and fashion, and she walks us through the changing interpretation of what luxury means in China. You may think you know how Chinese people view luxury, but like everything in China, these trends have a habit of changing very quickly. So I hope that this interview helps to keep you updated on the latest interpretation.     

Lori Li’s object: A wine glass dating back to the Han Dynasty.

Lori Li’s favourite WeChat sticker: A panda destroying an office.
(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Lori Li: Some images from the club’s building and grounds.

Lori Li: Some images from the arts and music events hosted at the club.

Lori: The club’s founder, Mr. Wang Xingzheng.

Lori Li: The person who introduced her to the club’s founder was Jin Xing (金星).

Lori Li: Two memorable visitors to the club were Karl Lagerfeld and Paul Smith.

Lori Li’s favourite China fact: the existence of stone inscriptions at tourist sites.

Lori Li’s favourite Chinese word: 时髦 (Shímáo), meaning something between fashion and style.

Lori Li’s favourite places to visit in China: Any 五线城市 (5th tier city), such as this one she recently visited in Guǎngxī Province.

Lori Li’s favourite place to eat: 串串香麻辣烫 on 襄阳南路, otherwise known as “The David Lynch Málàtàng”.

“Keep it Quiet” is the name of the semi-public bar at Yongfoo Elite, the private members club located in the diplomatic quarter of Shanghai. So I’m especially grateful that its General Manager, Lori Li, broke her own rules to speak to me in this week’s episode.     

As well as spilling the beans on the club itself, Lori and I talk about Shanghai’s status as a world centre of style and fashion, and she walks us through the changing interpretation of what luxury means in China. You may think you know how Chinese people view luxury, but like everything in China, these trends have a habit of changing very quickly. So I hope that this interview helps to keep you updated on the latest interpretation.     

Lori Li’s object: A wine glass dating back to the Han Dynasty.

Lori Li’s favourite WeChat sticker: A panda destroying an office.
(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Lori Li: Some images from the club’s building and grounds.

Lori Li: Some images from the arts and music events hosted at the club.

Lori: The club’s founder, Mr. Wang Xingzheng.

Lori Li: The person who introduced her to the club’s founder was Jin Xing (金星).

Lori Li: Two memorable visitors to the club were Karl Lagerfeld and Paul Smith.

Lori Li’s favourite China fact: the existence of stone inscriptions at tourist sites.

Lori Li’s favourite Chinese word: 时髦 (Shímáo), meaning something between fashion and style.

Lori Li’s favourite places to visit in China: Any 五线城市 (5th tier city), such as this one she recently visited in Guǎngxī Province.

Lori Li’s favourite place to eat: 串串香麻辣烫 on 襄阳南路, otherwise known as “The David Lynch Málàtàng”.

This week’s episode is with Noah Sheldon, who has been taking photos and making films of workers in China over the last decade or so. We discuss some of the factory conditions that aren’t covered in much of the world’s reporting on the issue. We talk about the condition of the average migrant worker in China. And we focus in on the lives of one or two people that Noah has encountered as part of his work. 

To see some of the work mentioned in our conversation, see www.noahsheldon.com.

Noah Sheldon’s object: One of his cameras, unsurprisingly.

Noah Sheldon’s favourite WeChat sticker [1]: a cyclist chasing a motorcyclist.
(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Noah Sheldon’s favourite WeChat sticker [2]: a boy using an oversized comb.
(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Noah Sheldon: A screenshot from one of his short documentaries about a styrofoam collector. It’s only 4 minutes long, please go to www.noahsheldon.com/work to watch it in parallel to listening to this episode. 

Noah Sheldon: Some images from Wenfeng (文峰), the subject of another one of his films. 

Noah Sheldon’s inspiration: Studs Terkel, and his 1974 piece “Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do”.

Noah Sheldon’s favourite restaurant: In & Out Yunnan Restaurant (一坐一忘).

Noah Sheldon’s LEAST favourite word or phrase in Chinese: 差不多 (Chàbuduō - "more or less" / "not far off").

Noah Sheldon’s favourite song to sing at KTV (karaoke): Elton John, Tiny Dancer.

One of Noah Sheldon’s favourite information sources: Liao Yiwu, The Corpse Walker: Real-Life Stories, China from the Bottom Up.

If you’re inspired by some of the stories from today’s episode, I recommend watching the Netflix film: American Factory.

This week’s episode is with Noah Sheldon, who has been taking photos and making films of workers in China over the last decade or so. We discuss some of the factory conditions that aren’t covered in much of the world’s reporting on the issue. We talk about the condition of the average migrant worker in China. And we focus in on the lives of one or two people that Noah has encountered as part of his work. 

To see some of the work mentioned in our conversation, see www.noahsheldon.com.

Noah Sheldon’s object: One of his cameras, unsurprisingly.

Noah Sheldon’s favourite WeChat sticker [1]: a cyclist chasing a motorcyclist.
(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Noah Sheldon’s favourite WeChat sticker [2]: a boy using an oversized comb.
(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Noah Sheldon: A screenshot from one of his short documentaries about a styrofoam collector. It’s only 4 minutes long, please go to www.noahsheldon.com/work to watch it in parallel to listening to this episode. 

Noah Sheldon: Some images from Wenfeng (文峰), the subject of another one of his films. 

Noah Sheldon’s inspiration: Studs Terkel, and his 1974 piece “Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do”.

Noah Sheldon’s favourite restaurant: In & Out Yunnan Restaurant (一坐一忘).

Noah Sheldon’s LEAST favourite word or phrase in Chinese: 差不多 (Chàbuduō - "more or less" / "not far off").

Noah Sheldon’s favourite song to sing at KTV (karaoke): Elton John, Tiny Dancer.

One of Noah Sheldon’s favourite information sources: Liao Yiwu, The Corpse Walker: Real-Life Stories, China from the Bottom Up.

If you’re inspired by some of the stories from today’s episode, I recommend watching the Netflix film: American Factory.