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City taps its citizens’ creativity
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Creative ideas are always floating around. The issue is finding good ones and turning them into reality.
Many proposals for artworks and daily objects — some cool, some tacky, some ingenious — have emerged in the city’s ongoing Invention and Creativity Competition.
Some are even practical and will be displayed in creative bazaars and actually produced.
To date, more than 1,000 proposals have been submitted to M50 Creative Park. The deadline is August 31.
The competition, part of Shanghai’s first Citizens Art Festival, is open to all locals and expats. Experience in art, design and creative industry is not necessary.
A small organic aquaponic system for growing fish and vegetables was submitted by Li Pawei, a Taiwanese IT professional who has lived in Shanghai for 10 years.
The ecosystem grows tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables by use of fish waste as fertilizer. The plants, meanwhile, purify the water for the fish.
“The ecosystem occupies only one square meter, so it’s perfect for home gardening on balconies,” Li says. The annual output of tomatoes and cucumbers can reach 35 kilograms.
Jonas Merian, a Swiss furniture designer and photographer, has submitted handmade furniture and other furnishings made of upcycled wood, leather, metal, resin, silicone and textiles.
Inspiration comes from everyday objects that he finds in antiques markets.
Works include impressive furniture as well as biscuit-box clocks, old Chinese telephone clocks and old TV digital picture frame, all boasting a nostalgic flavor of old-time Shanghai.
Retired worker Shen Fenfen, who suffers from osteoarthritis of the neck, devised a cervical collar to protect the cervical spine and stimulate acupuncture meridian points. It is designed for people who work long hours in front of computers.
Retired physician Hu Xiaoyang paints coconut shells into traditional Chinese opera masks and uses them as pen holders.
They can also be hung on walls for home decoration.
Eye-catching proposals include a quadcopter with cameras to monitor fire and air pollution, a pop-up book series designed for autistic children, and a giant ship model made of beverage cans.
“Good ideas are everywhere, just turn them into products that are affordable and practical in daily life,” says Wang Yi, general manager of M50 Creative Park, an organizer of the contest.
Wang invites professional designers to give talks about turning art and ideas into businesses at various venues. The next one will be at 2pm today at Shanghai Mass Art Center (125 Guyi Rd).
Design institutions in Shanghai will also offer jobs to some contestants with talent and potential to become professional creative designers.
Some submissions will be displayed at the I-Mart of the Highstreet Loft from September 4 to 7. Items include stylish T-shirts, jewelry and household items.
“Today taste for art has improved and people are eager to pursue individuality,” says Jin Weidong, chief marketing officer of Shangtex Fashion Co, organizer of I-Mart. “Vendors’ fees are negligible so people are not under much pressure to cover the costs of the products.”
The regular creative bazaars aim to discover talented designers and develop a new profit model for creative products.
Creative proposals can be submitted at M50 Creative Park or at http://smwhj.wgj.sh.gov.cn (contestants must register first). The best and most proposals will be honored and some will be manufactured.
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