 Ma Yingli, film-maker, born 1965 in Nanjing,
lives and works in Berlin und Peking
⁄⁄ From Beixin Qiao to Tiantong Yuan, 2006 video
 Yvonne Ziegler: From Beixin Qiao to Tiantong Yuan—Life in the New Residential Areas
On the way between the new high-rise residential buildings and the wide roads full of cars, Song Shiyuan and his wife Mrs. Zhu Guiqin are searching for the remains of their former home: they are accompanied by Ma Yingli, the inquisitive voice behind the quietly recording camera. However, the courtyard houses of the Tu Er Hutong in the heart of Beijing have vanished entirely. Piece by piece, they have been leveled to the ground. They claim they have, indeed, recognized one of their former neighbors in one of the last remaining old trees. Childhood memories are rekindled—how, as children, they climbed up the trees in their garden and plucked fruit. "One can no longer find any of these trees." Close by, a plaque reminds people that the Tu Er Hutong was built as early as the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) and that the tree standing next to it is as old as the Hutong.
The drive continues, this time to the new residential areas at the northern periphery of the city, past construction sites where rows upon rows of bulldozers shovel in unison and massive roads, resting on pillars lead into nowhere: identically formed, sterile-looking residential compounds encircled by fences of which only the central gate is open. And then there are older residential areas which have already become greened. "Sleeping cities," in which there is three of everything: "Many children, many elderly people, and many dogs."
In 2001, the retired couple, whose family had lived in Beijing’s Old Town for generations, was given one month notice to vacate their courtyard house; after moving out they first lived in different places before they finally discovered a condominium one-storey apartment 25 km away in northern Beijing, beyond the 5th ring road. The compensation they had received was not enough to afford an apartment in the center. Once again, trees and plants were important and they were planted right after they had moved in and are being cared for and cultivated every day. "You can beautify the environment in which you live, but you cannot change the environment," Song Shiyuan remarks gracefully. Despite compulsory resettlement and uprooting the couple is not unhappy, since they continue to cultivate their former way of life in the new area: this includes their garden, the conversations with their new neighbors and with the people who practice gymnastics on the lawns in front of the houses, keeping themselves agile by simple exercise regimes. The new neighbors come around for lunch. They eat meals together and play the game of Mahjong. "I try to create the atmosphere of old Beijing. By doing this, I would like to give me and the others the feeling that we will always live in the old Hutongs." Composed and in high-spirits Zhu Guiqin continues to speak: "Inner peace comes from a person's patience and tolerance. One should always have conviction and trust."
Ma Yingli accompanied the couple several days. The film shows one entire day, from morning prayers to evening relaxation on the couch in front of television. She manages to be present without altering their current of life. The camera is held only as close as is needed to be within talking distance without imposing on them. Thus, with a natural ease and grace, the couple talk about their life, show their guests that they are happy to have moved here, and reply to Ma Yingli's reserved questions. It is evening now and the day they spent together draws to a close. The couple end their day with a footbath of plant roots with the cat sitting close by. Zhu Guiqin explains that according to Buddhist doctrine, relaxation and rest are an integral part of a healthy life, for it is relaxation which leads to inner, spiritual tranquility: an attitude which can be noticed and felt.
Camera work: Di Shen; Sound: Wang Dilai; Cut: Ba Jianfeng;
Thanks to: Zhu Guiqin, Song Shiyuan, Wang Xiaodong, Zhang Liang, Xu Jian, Wu Hao, Fu Kang, Jan Kern, Zeng Jian, Dreamfactory
Works in the exhibition:
From Beixin Qiao to Tiantong Yuan, 2006, video, colour,
sound, 40 min.; loan of the artist
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