Beijing, China 5 - 18 Nov

Intra-action LAB

Situated media installations, Image credit: Brad Miller

Mediated narratives: cross-media projects in the public domain

[Open elective] SOMA 3801 Special Project Intra-action LAB, Beijing.

Intra-action.LAB

Intra-action.LAB [Open elective] SOMA 3801 Special Project Intra-action LAB, Beijing.

Introduction Intra-action.LAB is a New Colombo Plan Mobility project co-funded by UNSW Art & Design, DFAT and was developed in association with the Central Academy of Fine Arts and Media Architecture Biennale conference Beijing. Intra-action LAB is the grand-child of Prof Richard Goodwin’s Porosity Studio Rare Earth (2010) and Dr Ian McArthur’s Chongqing MAD.LAB (2015, 2016) and will be run by Brad Miller.

Beijing

With a population close to that of Australia, China’s capital city Beijing is one the country’s most populous metropolis, second only to Shanghai. Beijing is situated at the northern tip of the roughly triangular North China Plain, which opens to the south and east of the city. Mountains to the north, northwest and west shield the city and northern China’s agricultural heartland from the encroaching desert steppes. The north-western part of the municipality, especially Yanqing County and Huairou District, are dominated by the Jundu Mountains, while the western part is framed by Xishan or the Western Hills. The Great Wall of China is across the northern part of Beijing. Average temp in Nov is 10° / 0°C and about 2hrs flight time from Shanghai and 3:40 from Hong Kong.

There are up to 24 places available in the program. The project has been support by both Faculty and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) New Colombo Plan Mobility Funding to provide financial support to up to 24 students ($2,000 per student to assist with travel expenses). This support is available by application (see section on New Colombo Plan Scholarships).

This elective is offered in an intensive and collaborative studio mode. Studio is integrated with presentations, and workshops, fieldwork, site visits and social engagements. The studio will be conducted in collaboration with student and faculty peers from Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) and other studios. The intra-action LAB Beijing is enhanced by a program of local/international guests and mentors who will come in to support and advise students about their projects. Collaboration is strongly encouraged as a means to (1) enhance your interdisciplinary trans-cultural learning and (2) to generate greater potential of developing studio out- comes relevant to the intra-active context.

Draft Schedule Pre-departure language classes @ UNSW Confucius Institute. Pre-departure travel briefing including safe travel and risk assessment details and project details provided. Arrival in Beijing over the weekend…. Day 1: CAFA digital media lab and Art Museum visit, evening: Petcha Kutcha Day 2: CAFA studio work studio response session return to CAFA Art Museum Day 3: CAFA studio work City walk through Dashilar (central Beijing) Remix studio visit, Institute of Provocation. Day 4: CAFA studio work day 5: CAFA studio work Weekend Day 6: Remix studio visit/intensive Weekend Day 7: 798 gallery crawl, group dinner. Day 8: CAFA studio work Day 9: CAFA studio work + informal progress presentations Day 10: CAFA studio work + informal progress presentations Day 11: CAFA studio work Day 12: CAFA studio work Weekend Day 13: Intra-action LAB Studio pop up exhibition Weekend Day 14: Clean Up

Image credit: Brad Miller

Intra-action.LAB [Open elective] SOMA 3801 Special Project Intra-action LAB, Beijing.

[Open elective] SOMA 3801 Special Project Intra-action LAB, Beijing. Intra-action.LAB

From Mad.lab @ BJDW Image credit: Brad Miller

[Open elective] SOMA 3801 Special Project Intra-action LAB, Beijing. Intra-action.LAB

What to bring Pack as you would any trip, bearing in mind it will be winter and can get very cold and rain at any point. Much of the working day will be inside and therefore relatively casual, but there will be smart occasions, so bring some- thing formal

Most ATMs accept foreign cards – no need to bring huge amounts of cash

Bring an unlocked phone with you, it make things much safer, easier and helps co-ordinate and getting around with maps etc.

Bring a good note/sketch book and anything that will be useful in your project work would be advisable. However art equipment is cheap to purchase – you just need to travel to get it.

Please do bring your laptop with you. Be aware that China has a very different internet environment so I would buy a VPN app for 14 days if you wish to access google or other social media services. WeChat is the preferred Chinese messaging environment; however it is not absolutely secure.

Bring a camera perhaps beyond your phone. China uses a variety of electrical outlets, but the safest is to bring an adaptor.

Beijing is by most standards a safe city. As with any travelling however, think about personal insurance and about the extras.

Accommodation

We will confirm accommodation and costs as soon as possible. In 2015 and 2016 accommodation cost approximately 320RMB per night per room including breakfast (We can place 2 persons in a room). A refund- able room deposit will usually be requested and we will advise about when hotel and rate is confirmed.

Travel Insurance Travelling as a UNSW student on a UNSW project you are covered by travel insurance but you must register your travel at: https://student.unsw.edu.au/travel

The instructions are as follows (this can be done by all students going on the program including any of those not receiving NCP scholarships):Pre-departure and Travel insurance:

Prior to leaving on the program students should go to the following website for the final preparations tutorial: https://student.unsw.edu.au/globaltutorial

Prior to departure students should: 1. Complete the Pre Departure tutorial. (Enrolment key is

PDSTU2014). 2. Read the UNSW Travel Procedure. 3. Register their travel for insurance purposes at: UNSW

Travel Portal.

From Mad.Lab Image credit: Brad Miller

[Open elective] SOMA 3801 Special Project Intra-action LAB, Beijing. Intra-action.LAB

Image credit: Brad Miller

[Open elective] SOMA 3801 Special Project Intra-action LAB, Beijing. Intra-action.LAB

Food The people of Beijing love food as you’re no doubt aware in an essential part of their culture. From restaurants, noodle shops, street barbecues and markets come the most insightful viewing as citizens of all type frequent together and there are few hours in the woken day when the city’s inhabitants are without some form of food in the hands. Food in Beijing often tends to be spicy and exotic. But cuisine from around the world is readily avail- able. Also read the government travel advisory information https://smartraveller.gov.au/countries/china

Travel basics It is important that you read and understand the Australian Government Travel Advisory information https:// smartraveller.gov.au/countries/china

If you purchase your ticket via STA at UNSW you will receive travel advice as well.

Medical care In Beijing sound medical care is available but for foreigners can be expensive. Quality care is typically available in major cities. Elsewhere standard is significantly lower.

Water Tap water is unsafe to drink. Food in good quality restaurants and hotels is usually safe.

Vaccinations May be required. Consult your doctor for advice.

Crime Limited to hot spots. Opportunistic and petty crime is more frequent in some areas; foreigners may be affected but overall Chongqing is a safe place. Just take the usual precautions with valuables and move about the city with your peers.

Arrival It is best to travel direct by taxi, you’ll have to find the taxi stand with long queue, which will cost you around 100 or so RMB (AUD $20) if you’re staying around CAFA campus, depending on the traffic. Once out of the airport (International), you’ll see the taxi stand immediately. It will sit 4 people with 3 squashed at the back. The only issue is it does not take too much luggage in the boot - 2 or 3 cabin cases only!

Make sure you have the Chinese writing of the hotel available, as they rarely can speak English or have the Hotel phone number (pre-programmed!).

Image credit: Brad Miller

[Open elective] SOMA 3801 Special Project Intra-action LAB, Beijing. Intra-action.LAB

Travel Information A direct flight is the fastest and most cost effective. Try to book a flight departing Sydney on 3rd November with China Air for example. This ensures we have time to adjust to the climate and settle into Beijing in time for the start of the program on Monday 5th November. Flights to Beijing at this time of year cost around $600-$900 but obviously vary with circumstance.

Visa Visas for China can be complicated. You will need to have a confirmed hotel booking (we will arrange this) or an invitation letter from a host organization (we will arrange this). We will request details from you including:

Date of Birth Passport Number Departure and Arrival dates

When applying for your China visa you will need to take with you: The completed form with photograph Two photocopies of the picture page of your passport an invitation letter or you hotel booking confirmation (A letter of invitation will be provided to all (intra-action.lab participants.)

Regular visa service takes four days. Visit the Visa processing Centre website here: https://www.visaforchina.org/SYD_EN/

Applications 1. Complete the online form via the Art & Design website. Applications close 30 July 2018.

2. New Colombo Plan New Colombo Plan Scholarships are available. Intra-action. LAB is supported by the Australian Federal Government’s New Colombo Plan through the Department of Foreign Affairs. For 2018, UNSW Global has 24 New Colombo Plan scholarships of $2000 for UNSW undergraduate students who are Australian citezens participating in Intra-action.LAB.

3. Once accepted into the course students will be manually enrolled in the UAD elective course Special Project SOMA3801 (6UOC) by the Student Centre.

Image credit: Brad Miller