Archive for October, 2008

chinese microblogging platforms ::

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

DannyYungOnMicroblogging:: microblogs in Chinese are called 叨客 (pronounced ”dao ke”), a combination of the characters for “chatter” and “blog.” Chinese microblogging providers arose in the wake of the (the original microblogging platform) initial popularity, and some of them adhere quite closely to the Twitter user experience – from external appearances, like the homepage / profile layouts, to internal functionality, like using @username to reply to another user’s post, limiting posts to 140 characters, and providing support for SMS updating and one or more instant messaging services (typically QQ and MSN). However, Chinese microblogging platforms are yet to be supported by any clients (e.g. Twitterific, Tweet Deack, Twirl, etc.). If you know of any clients, please leave a comment.

Twitter itself is the choice of China’s more internationally-oriented digerati: (a) because they were early adopters, before the Chinese clones got off the ground, and (b) because there’s little interoperability among all of the different choices, so users tend to join services where there are already conversations they want to follow.

Included below is a “top 5″ review  (in no particular order) of Chinese miroblogging platforms:

1) taotao  |  滔滔Tao Tao

Tencent’s entry into the microblog game leverages its vast QQ instant messenger user base to make it one of the most popular domestic Twitter clones. QQ users gain the ability to publish snippets of text through their browser, by updating their QQ signature, or by sending a text message from their mobile phone.

2) fanfou  |  饭否Fanfou

Fanfou’s open API interface allows 3rd party developers to create applications on top of the sites basic functionality. Interesting examples include Gongfan, which overlays comments onto a GoogleMap of China, and Doufan, which inserts a button on Douban user pages to report their activity in their Fanfou stream.

3) jiwaide  |  叽歪deJiwai.de

Despite its German URL, this company is actually based in Xuzhou. Jiwaide also features a GoogleMap mashup and an open API for 3rd party developer applications. The site’s off-the-shelf functionality is among the richest of China’s Twitter clones, featuring a front-pag e search box, and a wide array of widgets for most of the popular blog platforms.

 4) zuosa  |  做啥Zuosa

“What are you doing?” asks the name of the site, an apt description of what people use microblogs for. Zuosa has native support for including an image in each post, and offers support for video and multimedia links.

5) douban broadcast  |  豆瓣广播Douban

Miniblogs are also built in to other specialty social network sites. Douban, a book, music, and movie-oriented SNS, has a “broadcast” feature which reports any actions the user takes (updating their reading list, adding a friend, listening to a new song, etc); users can also write up their own mini-posts to include in the feed.

These are just a few of the many microblogging platforms in China; a more extensive list (without annotations) is available on the Web 2.0 reviews / news site THWS, which shows 27 Twitter-clones and 17 Twitter-like Web sites in China. (The THWS post is from 2007, its likely that some of these sites are no longer functioning.) 

// AjS

snaps | lanzhou cotton candy ::

Sunday, October 26th, 2008

:: taken by in Lanzhou, Gansu province, China  // AjS

Cotton Candy

neocha.com | blow up 04 ::

Friday, October 24th, 2008

Blow Up 04:: Neocha has recently published a 4th installment of its webzine “Blow up” (放大), aptly titled, “Blow Up 04″ (放大04). Link here for a PC or Mac download. This edition is loosely focused on the theme of “sport” with content including:

  • an article titled ”Is China Ready for Originality?” featuring Xiao Long Hua, an illustrator and member of Cult Youth, the leading underground comic book group in China
  • Neocha user profile on: Popil, creative extraordinaire
  • an article on BMX in China
  • an article on Liang You (), an old Shanghainese B&W magazine that pioneered athletics photography
  • a video called “Dare!” documenting China’s 1984 Olympic team
  • a piece on the classic Chinese sneaker brand Warrior ()
  • and an overview of “Tomorrow’s Afternoon Tea,” the latest Neocha.com netlabel release

Warrior popil xiao long hua

[full disclosure: 56minus1 is a partner at Neocha.com]

// AjS

tomorrow’s afternoon tea ::

Friday, October 24th, 2008

Neocha log:: Neocha’s “netlabel” just released its latest compilation, titled “Tomorrow’s Afternoon Tea.”

The album brings together ten original tracks from independent Chinese bands and solo acts with female vocalists, all of whom are Neocha.com users.

Link here to download the entire compilation, or link from the tracklist below to stream each song.

According to Neocha CEO Sean Leow, the goal of Neocha’s netlabel is to bring together the best of various music genres in China represented by Neocha musicians. Neocha offers the compilations to the public for free in order to give the musicians wider recognition and distribution.

Neocha net label’s “Tomorrow’s Afternoon Tea:”

Tomorrow's_Afternoon_Tea-A

01 coverpeople

02 范世琪梦境

03 漂亮hearing

04 coffee’s

05 蘑菇花园

06 April&Box小事情

07 棒棒糖乐团a song 4 my angel

08 丹麦司机男朋友

09 

10 Today束之前

Additionally, here’s a link to download an earlier-released Neocha.com compilation / podcast titled “Post China,” which features eight of China’s best emerging post-rocks bands.

And lastly, one more link to stream (not available for download) another Neocha.com compilation titled “1981,” an album showcasing sounds from China’s post-1980 generation musicians.

[full disclosure: 56minus1 is a partner at Neocha.com]

// AjS

trax | crystal castles, untrust us ::

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

crystal-castles-lp

introducing You Si ::

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

DannyYungOnYouSI:: 56minus1 has long been an admirer of You Si.

Who is he? You Si is a radically unique artist from Shanghai who, with little more than an eye dropper, creates mind-bending and color-juxtaposed ink-and-wash pieces unlike any of his peers.

In the coming weeks, 56minus1 will be releasing a “The Shanghai Beat” episode featuring an interview with You Si in which he talks about his work, his technique, and his thoughts on the Chinese contemporary art scene. Stay tuned. 

Below are a few examples of his work.

opening folds of jade (2008) ::

OPENING FOLDS OF JADE 2008

busy in alteration (2008) ::TEST - 繁茂的异变 BUSY IN ALTERATION 2008 122.5 x 123.5cm

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chinaSMACK | chinese internet chaos ::

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

danwei-fauna-thumb-220x220

[this entry is reposted on 56minus1 from Danwei with permission from the original author]      

:: chinaSMACK launched barely four months ago, but it immediately proved to be one of the more interesting niche websites about China in English. The site translates posts and comments from China’s lively Internet forum scene.

Internet fora, or BBS, were one of the first types of website in China to get young Chinese hooked, and they remain very popular. Chinese BBS are a refreshing contrast to the stodgy state media, and the cowed privately-managed media.

You do however need a strong stomach to enjoy Chinese BBS because for every thoughtful or thought-provoking posting, there are two or three vicious ad hominem essays, human flesh search engine man hunts, or nationalistic rants.

chinaSMACK is a slightly anarchic collective of people, mostly Chinese but living all over the world. Under the leadership of Fauna (pictured), they select and translate Chinese BBS posts and comments into English. Reading their website helps makes sense of the chaos of the Chinese Internet, and the moral debates that occupy wired Chinese youth across the globe.

Danwei recently asked Fauna of chinaSMACK some questions and she sent the questions to all the contributors. Below is an edited transcript of their replies.

Who started China Smack and why?

Fauna
I started chinaSMACK. The reasons are in my about page and in the 3 month post. The basic reasons:Make my own website, improve my English, and help foreigners see and understand a different side of Chinese people that many other English websites about China do not always show. I like to go on online and read BBS forums so I thought it was a suitable topic for me.

Who are all the contributors and where do you live?

Fauna
The contributors are: me, 
Kai (Sydney), Kris Chen (Shanghai), Ping Gao (North Carolina), Ian Statler (Dalian), Xia Boyang (London), Joe Xu (U.S.A.), and Yang Shaohua (Taiyuan). Each of these people have published at least one post. Some have published 3. There are a few other people who have not published anything yet or hope to do different things but none have been completed yet so it is best to recognize these people.

Which websites do you draw most of your translations from?

Fauna:
They are mostly BBS forums like TianyaMopSinaSohu, and KDS (because I am in Shanghai). Sometimes there are other BBS like TiexueLiba etc.

Ping Gao:
Tianya. I am a member of the famous Tianya Guanguang Tuan (a group on the Tianya forum).

Kris Chen:
KDS.

Ian:
Mostly Tianya, Sina and CQ 69.

Yang Shaohua:
I always translate articles on BBS of Sina.com.

Joe Xu:
Usually Tianya and NetEase, but I also frequent many other major BBS.

What do you personally consider the most interesting Chinese forum or BBS?

Fauna:
KDS. Maybe I am biased.

Ping Gao:
Absolutely Tianya. There are some humorous people who post hilarious stuff there. They are full of humor and wisdom. Another thing that makes Tianya interesting is that it is very comprehensive. One can find almost everything about life there.  Politics, traveling, music, cooking… all kinds of stuff.

Kris Chen
KDS.

Yang Shaohua:
BBS.sina.com and Mop.

Joe Xu:
I always liked Tianya members the best, mostly due to some of their clever antics when it comes to getting around censorship.

When did you first start following Chinese online conversation, and have you noticed any big changes in Chinese online culture since then?

Fauna:
I started to read BBS forums every day maybe 2 or 3 years ago. Before that, I used to to read them but not so often as every day. I think the big changes for Chinese online culture are that Chinese netizens are now more funny, more yellow, and maybe more free.                      

However, I think it is also very clear that the Chinese government cares more about the Internet now than before also and many “bad” things are deleted very fast too. Sometimes I notice that the source of a post we are working on is deleted before we are finished translating. That makes me worried that if I post it, I will attract too much attention from the government.

I only hope they do not care too much because we are just translating and most Chinese do not read English. We also try to talk only about social things and not very political things like democracy or human rights.

Ping Gao
When I was 18 or 19, in college I was not as busy as when I was in high school, so I could spent more time on internet. Yeah, big changes! I think the influence of the Internet has been growing. Internet was more about sharing information 6 or 7 years ago, but now it can has social influence as well.

Chinese online culture is not only playing a role as media and as encyclopedia, but it’s also a window for people to know the world, and to let the world know China. This is very important for a growing and changing country.

Kris Chen:
I always receive lots of information from KDS, and it actually makes reading news (TV news, newspaper) unnecessary for me.

Big changes, hmm, basically there are a few changes, but most of them I consider as negative. It’s like people don’t know what to do with their newly granted right, e.g., exposure of private photos without the owner’s consent, taking girls pictures on the streets and posting them on the web, etc. It’s kind of an infringement of others’ legal rights.

Though many online communities provide people with access to various information, people helping each other to solve problems, is kind of encouraging. But basically it seems a higher moral standard is needed.

Joe Xu
I’m beginning to see the use of more memes or Internet catchphrases that may have resulted from online censorship.

Kai:
I only just started following online Chinese conversation and it’s mostly because of chinaSMACK, so let’s say about a month at most. Since it’s been only a month, I can’t say that I’ve noticed any big changes in Chinese online culture. However, just from browsing and translating for chinaSMACK, my opinion is that the comments on chinaSMACK aren’t much different from those on other (English) websites — there are LOL ones, douchebag ones, idiotic ones, intelligent ones, faux-intellectual ones, argumentative ones, racist ones, and of course, very Occidental ones.

Are you ever worried by online mob behavior (human flesh search engines etc.) on China’s Internet?

Fauna:
Of course. That is one big reason I will not give my Chinese name, do personal interviews, or show my face. I know some Chinese do not think it is good I make this website and there are some crazy people in the world. I do not want them to try to find me.

Originally, I changed my gravatar ["globally recognized avatar"; explanation] for the three month anniversary of chinaSMACK (see image above):

I PhotoShopped a picture of me so people could see me but not find out who I am, but I am shy and am not sure I will change it yet. Who I am or what I look like is not really important. I hope people will care more about the Chinese netizens.

Ping Gao:
Not really. Yeah, sometimes online mob behavior can be annoying, but it also does something good, such as people human flesh search engines help people find their lost babies back. Every thing has two sides. But I think one thing needs to be considered is people’s privacy and rights should be protected by the law.

Kris Chen:
I do feel bad for some of the victims of online mob behavior. However, most people remain anonymous. And that type of behavior does not focus on random targets, so I guess that’s it. If that’s the way it is, so be it. The key is always remember to protect your private and personal information.

Yang Shaohua:
Yes. It is really dangerous for anyone online because your information can be leaked by several methods. I think if your information cannot be kept safely, your money, your safety and your property will also be disclosed by someone who wants to hurt you. But, it is an effective tool to find out some person who has committed a crime and to debate about people’s behavior. It depends on who is using it.

Human flesh search engines are just a tools. It depends on who uses them. So if you are worry about the knife, I think you will be worried about that.

Xia Boyang:
I think the online mob is doing what paparazzi and tabloids do in the Western world. The problem is of course the accountability. Since it is mostly anonymous, it is hard to prosecute someone legally for liabilities and violation of privacy.

Joe Xu:
Online activism to uncover corruption or crime is not a bad thing, but tactics of intimidation or blackmailing in the form of online vigilantism shouldn’t be allowed.

Kai:
I wouldn’t call it “worried”; to be honest I actually don’t care. Mob behaviour is endemic in all societies, even back to the days of Julius Caesar (‘TEAR HIM TO PIECES!’ ). People are what they are — animals. For my part, I really don’t have that much time to “search and destroy” some guy who cheated on his wife, his mistress and his mistress’s sister.

snaps | copper red guard ::

Sunday, October 19th, 2008

photo.jpg :: taken in Shanghai @ The Sculpture Space on Huaihai Xi Lu

// AjS

chinese survey 2.0 ::

Sunday, October 19th, 2008

DannyYungOnSurveys:: much has been made of China’s hundreds of millions of internet users (253 million according to the last official count)…but, how to understand what they really think? There are many ways to do this, the best of which is a full-on qualitative / quantitative analysis of related Internet word of mouth conversations, but for a quick and dirty read on netizen sentiment, preferences, etc., one such way is with online surveys.

Included below is a “top 5″ review of online survey sites in China. Some of these services simply replicate traditional survey models; others use new technologies to take advantage of Chinese netizens’ tendency to redistribute content in order to reach a wider survey base.

1) Askform

logo

Easy redistribution: AskForm differs from most survey sites in that it provides Flash survey widgets, allowing users to copy and paste AskForm’s widget code for easy embedding in blog and BBS posts. Ease of use in creating surveys: when users create surveys, AskForm makes use of user tags to identify matching surveys in its database, greatly simplifying the survey creation process. The site makes heavy use of AJAX for fast, responsive mouse-based survey creation. Open platform: AskForm follows the trend of openness and interoperability with an open API and the promise of more applications using its platform, making it attractive for commercial and individual use. Personal data center: AskForm will soon introduce a unique reporting module that will present and automatically update all survey data gathered, making user review of data significantly easier. Unfriendly user interface. Reportedly AskForm is working to change this.

2) Taidu8

taidunewlogo

One of the oldest names in the field, Taidu8 (formerly Data100) is a mainstay of Chinese online survey sites. Large library of surveys. Taidu8 has amassed a large collection of corporate and non-corporate surveys through its years in operation. “PK” Topics: one of the site’s more popular functionalities, “PK” topics (PK is gamer-speak for “player kill”), similar to “Hot / Not” polls in the Anglophone blogosphere, pose users with two choices. Respondents are then pitted against one another, with one side ‘winning’ or losing.’ (An example would be tinyurl.com/6cchy5 ). Paid surveys: for some of the corporate surveys, users can receive money or prizes as compensation for participating. However, Flash embedding of surveys is not an option. Flash is preferable to JavaScript embedding as many BBSes and blog platforms don’t support the use of ’script’ tags. The survey creation process is somewhat complicated.

3) WeZuo

screen-capture

WeZuo pitches itself as an enterprise-level survey, evaluation, and voting system. Distinguishes between polls and evaluations: survey creators can create two types of surveys; there is definitely a certain market space for user evaluations. Attractive page design: the light green page design is fairly comfortable and easy on the eyes. Richer pagination options: WeZuo distinguishes itself by providing the option to split surveys across multiple pages and set up landing pages with notes for respondents. Flash embedding is not an option; this likely has an impact on respondent enthusiasm. While WeZuo remains free, it has already posted pricing information for different user levels.

4) ZhiJiZhiBi

screen-capture-1

Offers a fairly systematic system of categorization, allowing users to easily find the category to which their survey belongs. Has its own user promotions area, and registered users are presented with an ‘upgrades’ system, increasing ’stickiness’ and user activity. Virtually no survey export or embedding functionality, other than survey URLs. Page design needs to be improved; overly flashy design on survey sites creates a distinct impression of unprofessionalism.

5) SoJump

wjxLogo

Clean site design – which appears to have been copied from blogcn, right down to the user registration panel. The survey functionality doesn’t support any browsers other than IE at the moment. The site has adopted some of the more popular Web 2.0 functionalities, including tagging. There is apparently no survey export or embedding functionality. In addition, the survey design is fairly run-of-the-mill, with the standard textbox and radio button widgets rather than custom CSS-styled widgets.

// AjS

snaps | shanghai nude ::

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

nude:: taken in Shanghai @ corner of Yuyuan Lu and Changde Lu

// AjS

the shanghai beat | 21 grams ::

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

:: Danwei TV presents The Shanghai Beat “Music Shorts” with a performance by 21 Grams, a Shanghainese experimental post rock band whose introspective music is largely inspired by an their passion for film. This video is also available on Tudou for faster loading in China. [link] Featured band courtesy of www.Neocha.com.

This performance is part of an earlier episode of The Shanghai Beat, titled “Graffiti Shanghai.” [also on Danwei]

The Shanghai Beat “Music Shorts” is produced by 56minus1 (Adam Schokora / 小石).

Intro music to this episode by Nara, a song called “Dream a Little Dream.”

// AjS

friday 5 | chinese net-speak (part 1) ::

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

DannyYungOnJiong :: Chinese netizens enjoy playing with language online. They make up new words, insert alphabetic and numerical abbreviations between Chinese characters in their posts, write backwards and upside down to trip-up the censors, and trade catchphrases with wild abandon.

To outsiders, however, conversations full of acronyms, ancient characters, and allusions (sometimes quite obscure) to Chinese culture / history is quite difficult to understand.

To help with the “decoding,” below are some basic explanations of frequently-used vocabulary by Chinese netizens:

visual pun: “囧” [pronounced “jiong,” in this case; other times pronounced "jing"] ::
After becoming widely used online in China, the past couple of months have seen this character explode into mainstream media / culture. It’s been splashed onto the cover of books and magazines, in advertisements, and on clothing. The obscure Chinese character 囧, which originally meant “bright,” looks like someone gaping in astonishment, so Chinese netizens reinterpreted it as a general response of helplessness or gloom. Sam Flemming of CIC talks a bit more about it here. Also, a number of well-known Web sites have sprung up around 囧 culture: 阿囧囧客官方囧人王国囧的官方网站. Some other online visual examples of 囧: .

catch-phrase: “economize: drink maotai” ["节约点,喝茅台" pronounced "jie yue dian, he mao tai"] ::
[Warning, this is very funny] The latest online catch-phrase was inspired by a report about a government official in Sichuan who beat up a liquor seller for overcharging on a bottle of Maotai alcohol. The explanation given: “Director Cao wanted to economize, because money is tight at the personnel bureau and he still owes money for house repairs.” Chinese netizens are always quick to pick up on hypocrisy, particularly on the part of local governments – the irony of a bureau director claiming to want to save money by buying China’s most famous brand of alcohol (and beating someone up over it) was too good to pass up. [link]

visual Pun: “槑” [pronounced “mei”] ::
An obscure alternate form of 梅, plum, the character 槑 is formed from two characters, which means “dull / stupid / foolish.” Chinese netizens use it to refer to anyone who is especially slow-witted. Because it kind of looks like two people standing next to each other, it shows up quite a bit in cartoons and image macros alongside 囧. Another adapted character, 雷 (“thunder”), is used to mean “shock.” For something especially shocking, the character is tripled to produce this character: 靐 (pronounced “bing”). [link] [link]

describing the opposition: FQ, JY, BS ::
When Chinese netizens aren’t having fun playing with catch-phrases and characters, they’re likely arguing with each other, employing shorthand / acronyms to refer to their opponents (and themselves too). FQ means 愤青 (pronounced “fen qing”), “angry youth,” and is used dismissively to refer to ultra-nationalist netizens (of which there are plenty). Some FQ have tried to reclaim the term as a badge of pride. On the other side are JY, 精英 (pronounced “jing ying”), “elite”: intellectuals who tend to be liberal and supportive of universal values. A third abbreviation, BS for 鄙视 (pronounced “XX”), “despise or disdain,” is tossed around by netizens on both sides of the aisle.

modifier: “山寨“ [pronounced “shan zhai”] ::
The word 山寨 literally means “mountain fort” or “village,” but is also used as a modifier meaning “knock-off,” to describe off-brand / fake products manufactured in small, tucked-away shops in Chinese villages. Some of these no-name brands have begun to advertise using celebrity-lookalikes as spokespersons. Knock-off F4, knock-off Emil Chou, and knock-off Jay Chou have all turned up in advertisements, drawing mockery from Chinese netizens. The term is even being applied to Chinese remakes of foreign TV and movies.

// AjS

[Friday 5 is the product of my work at Edelman Digital (China). Link here for the full Friday 5 archive. If you'd like to be added to the bilingual (English & Chinese) Friday 5 email distribution list, please send me an email at: adam DOT schokora AT edelman DOT com.]

events | for no reason ::

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

DannyYungOnJellymon:: Jellymon (blog) “and friends” is organizing an event called “an art show for…no reason…” in Shanghai at the Source on Friday night (10/16/08).

The real impetus for the show though, according to Jellymon, is that “the creative scene in Shanghai / China has dipped a bit in the last year with all the preparations for the Olympics, so we wanted to give it a little push.”

There is a good mix of artists involved in the show from all over the world…including quite a few local Chinese.

All art shown will be “for sale” at affordable prices…you can order any piece on the spot and have it deliverable to you in 3 days. Show profits go to the artists and to organizing exhibitions in the future. For more info / details on the “no reason” show, link here.

“an art show for…no reason,” by Jellymon & friends ::
jellymon_no reason

// AjS

the shanghai beat | graffiti shanghai ::

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

:: Danwei TV presents episode 4 of The Shanghai Beat, titled “Graffiti Shanghai” (with bilingual subtitles). You can also watch on Tudou (faster loading / higher quality in China).

For this episode, 56minus1 (Adam Schokora / 小石) meets up with three of Shanghai’s best known graffiti artists: PopilZhang Lan (AKA: Mr. Lan), and HKer, to get their inside perspective on the local graf scene and catch them in action painting a few pieces.

After the show, stay tuned for a musical performance by 21 Grams, a Shanghainese experimental post-rock band whose introspective music is largely inspired by their passion for film (featured band courtesy of www.Neocha.com).

credits ::
Produced by Adam Schokora & Ginger Xiang
Soundtrack by NaraK.C. Accidental, and Peter Bjorn & John

contacts ::
email & msn IM:  
skype: the.shanghai.beat
AIM: theshanghaibeat
qq:

special thanks ::
Peng Xin (Banyue), Annie, Nara, Sean Leow, Katie Grube, Stephanie Tung, and John Meckley for helping make this episode happen.

// AjS

who is danny yung (荣念曾) ::

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

:: Danny Yung (荣念曾) is a man of many talents, being a mathematician, an urban planner, an engineer, and also a distinguished “multi artist” of sorts.

Over the last 30+ years, he’s become known around the world for his many creative achievements in the areas of literature, performance (founded the avant garde theatre and dance troupe Zuni Icosahedron), installation work, experimental cinema / video, and other unconventional conceptual art forms. However, he is probably most widely recognized for his “Make Progress Every Day” (天天向上) comic, of which he recently published a book about, titled: 概念漫画, 天天向上 (Conceptual Comic: Making Progress Every Day). [link link]

Yung’s “Making Progress Every Day” series uses a single, simply drawn character (see image just above) with empty speech bubbles, or sometimes none at all, as a platform to engage his audience in dialogue (or their inner monologue), collective creativity, and interactive collaboration.

Yung leaves it mostly to others to fill in the blanks as a way to, according to him, ”experiment with a narrative framework,” create a “dialectic commentary on language itself,” and to more widely explore “communication structures.”

56minus1 first became an admirer of Yung’s work at the and has since taken to using his comic in a variety of ways (including interpretations on this site). A nine-frame example of his “Making Progress Every Day” series can be downloaded here, if interested.

 

Danny Yung on “Video Circle,” one of his video installation pieces ::
 

// AjS

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