*For those who don't know how to get to Roepaen, we will arrange a shuttle service from Düsseldorf to Roepaen (and back) on June 30 and Juli 1, 2018. Simply write an email to taifunproject@gmail.com. We will contact you to clarify details.*

Is ‘Chinese’ a community of imagination or is it real? What is ‘Chinese’? Definitions are legion. Just as we cannot choose how to come to this world, we cannot choose to be given a name. Anyway, we are trying to explain who we are.

Xiao Ke x Zi Han tried to look for the commonality of ‘Chinese’ in different levels of cognition. They seem to be doing a stubborn thing that is bound to activate a series of sensitive switches. Started in 2018, their research art project took place in different regions. That formed their exhibition as well as their live performance of various versions in various localities. CHINAME merges interviews with documentaries and portraits of people and tries to open a temporary contact zone for ‘Chinese’ identity. A quite confusing affair. But maybe ‘Chinese’ is just a synonym for confusion, and their live performance an honest expression of that overwhelming Chaos.

CHINAME reflects the artists exploration of personal as well as of national identity in life experiences. In the current world pattern in which right-leaning nationalism gradually emerges, the artists seek to reflect on the national community from the individual’s anxiety.

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

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