More Innovation than Just the Expo!

While the Expo is getting all the attention in Shanghai lately, other more local innovations are going on largely behind the scenes. Take, for example, Xia yu, who launched a boat in Xiangtan in Hunan province and hopes to paddle it to Shanghai in under 45 days. Did I mention his boat is made entirely out of recycled plastic bottles! This innovative idea came to Xia as a way of disposing of all of the plastic bottles left in his tea house while also making a statement about the power of recycling. He hopes to paddle (or sail) into Shanghai for the Expo and has even the words: “Low carbon life, beautiful world, Expo” on his main sail. This isn’t the first boat Xia has launched. In 2009 he built a smaller boat that made a 35 mile voyage to a nearby city. This inspired him and gave him the confidence to attempt a larger structure with a more visible target- the Shanghai World Expo.

Meanwhile, at the Rockbund Art Museum, China’s famous artist Cai Guoqiang is putting on an artistic expo of his own meant to counter the mega Expo down the street. His artistic expo celebrates the creativity and spirit of China’s farmers. Featured on NPR recently, Cai said: “These peasants’ objects are different from the type of national, corporate power connected with the Expo.” One of his featured artists is a farmer who has taught himself to make robots. The Rockbund Art Museum has several of his creations on site, as well as a rickshaw-pulling robot who pulls his smiling inventor around.

Similarly, at the OV Gallery, artist Chen Hanfeng focuses on how the Expo has changed the city noting that the beautification and ‘Better City, Better Life’ campaign have probably helped the city in the long run while other artists feel conflicted, like artist Ji Wenyu who worries that the $45 billion spent in Shanghai on the expo may have been a waste. Once the Expo is dismantled in 6 months, Ji notes, the progress may be lost. The concern of locals artists, musicians and others has not gone overlooked by the Expo, who have tried to include people from all walks of life in China in the massive event.

While in Shanghai for the Expo, why not check out these galleries to see what some locals think of the massive, Utopian event.