From 13 July to 1 August 2010, visitors can experience the intercultural art project Kiosk/ Xiaomaibu in the balancity event area. The newspaper kiosk is not just a shop where you can buy everyday necessities, it is also a meeting place and information hub for the people of a neighbourhood. It is only logical therefore that the focus of the German-Chinese project at the EXPO 2010 in Shanghai is artistic dialogue between the two countries, non-verbal communication forms and an examination of just such everyday neighbourhood cultures.

With this urban art project, the core idea of balancity is in the spotlight yet again: a city is only attractive and worth living in when art and cultural offerings are on hand. The Kiosk/ Xiaomaibu project reflects this idea both in a regional as well as an international context. Translated literally, Xiaomaibu means “little sales kiosk”. As a hub for goods, stories and people, it is an integral part of day-to-day life and is thus an ideal place to exchange impressions, ideas and art. At the same time it provides a platform to communicate and experience things. The resulting momentum forms the framework for the Kiosk/ Xiaomaibu project. The kiosk becomes an open gallery in the form of video and sound installations, performances and objects.

On 1 May 2010, parallel to the grand opening of the EXPO in Shanghai, the project was launched in Cologne with the Shanghai sound artist and DJ B6. With the aid of balancity, the city of Cologne and the Kultursekretariat NRW, the artists Petra Johnson and Xu Zhifeng got international artists and kiosk owners in Cologne, Weimar and Shanghai to take part in the project.

A live video chat via Skype is being organised in order to bring together the artistic works on both sides of the continent. On 12 July for example the artist WU Meng performed “A Melancholic Joker”, transforming the lanes and the vegetable gardens around YANG Ayi’s Xiaomaibu in Shanghai’s Weihai Lu into her stage. At the same time a video chat took place with the “Babylon Kiosk” in Cologne. The live stream visualised intercultural connections but at the same time emphasised differences. The aim is to “set up an uncomplicated network, in order to overcome national and cultural borders, to foster artistic dialogue and to apply the concept to further kiosks in other cities and countries” said Petra Johnson, one of the initiators. For example, on 19 July 2010 a new kiosk will be opened by the artists Hjoerdis Hoffman, Esther Blodau-Konick and Therese Dietl on Sophienstiftplatz in Weimar, Germany and it is going to be part of the project. Guest appearances by live stream from Liverpool and Istanbul are also planned.

The project will also have a musical touch. “Future Music in balancity” will take place each Friday and Saturday from 16 July to 1 August 2010. Some 12 Chinese DJs including B6, Ben Huang and ZLOX will be playing electronic music on the balancity pavilion stage.

The live programme includes a number of performances: a postcard performance live from Liverpool with the Chinese artist duo Lam and Jam on 26 July 2010, the performance “Metamorphosis” by CENG Duo and CAO Shu as well as “A Melancholic Joker” by WU Meng on 29 July 2010.

For further information see www.worldkiosk.blog.com