Cultural hybridity is such an amazing thing. Not long after writing a review of traditional and modern Chinese art now on view in Wellington, I've been catching up with material on the contemporary punk scene in Beijing. There seems to be quite an explosion of emerging punk and noise bands, both influenced by the interwebs and a rapid increase in exposure to punk history as well as the considerable pressures related to developing creative and critical voices in the current climate of China. NZ photographer John Lake recipient of the 2013 Wellington Asia Residency has been working to document this interesting period of change, and there are other documentaries of interest such as Beijing Punk. You can consult the up the punks nz site for a downloadable zine on Chinese punk and check out this blog post for an interview with John on the occasion of his subsequent exhibition held not long ago here in Wellington.
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