STORY: InShanghai OpenMic: Bridging Italian artistry with Chinese philosophy
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Sept. 1, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:31
LOCATION: SHANGHAI, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Shanghai, China
2. SOUNDBITE (English): ORLANDO DAGA, Italian artist in Shanghai

STORYLINE:

"Shanghai in My Mind" is an initiative that invites international designers to dive into the city's culture and bring fresh global design vibes that can amp up Shanghai's image.

Italian artist Orlando Daga found that many traditional Chinese philosophical works became his main sources of inspiration. How would his experience in Shanghai facilitate a deeper cultural exchange between his Italian heritage and the rich tapestry of Chinese art? Let's find out!

SOUNDBITE (English): ORLANDO DAGA, Italian artist in Shanghai
"I've been in China for more than eight years, so I consider China like my second home. I majored in Chinese culture, philosophy, and Chinese art and literature. So, basically, I consider China as the source of the inspiration for my creation. I'm very interested in the Taoism. So the empty part of ourselves is actually where the flow, the Tao, is flowing. So China's been teaching me another way of interpreting my life and my life according to also my art. So it's impossible to split my art and my life. For example, the program is called Shanghai in My Mind. Mind in Chinese can be translated to 'xin.' It means also heart and mind. So this is also a very different aspect of how we approach because from the European and Western style way of thinking, the mind is split by the heart. The philosophies and the religions are saying the same thing in just different ways. So, for me, the Chinese way is actually a very contemporary way to interpret our daily life."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Shanghai, China.
(XHTV)