Nod Young's photostream  

Nod Young’s work here at MAO Live is a salute to the undying influence of the “New Wave” music movement upon his formative years as a student and now continuing into his adulthood as an artist. His piece is inspired by his nostalgia for new wave, which he reveres for its rebellious punk foundation, but his deeper fascination lies within the complexities of technology and art that further define the sound. His memories of his student days are inextricably linked to his soundtrack of The Cars, Duran Duran and The Police. As Nod navigates forward in his life, he finds his previous pursuits of new wave seem to be waning— he is less avid about seeing live shows, he finds himself standing further and further back in the crowds, and his well-worn new wave music collection stands idle. Upon deeper examination however, the artist reaffirms the spirit of the movement still burns brightly, albeit manifested in a new fashion. He celebrates the seminal influence of the new wave from within, channeling the “passion, maverick, romance and senses” of it into his art work. His work represents a musical composition of new wave in an alternate form–with the the stripes as his lyrics, the color as his melody, and vocals jointly comprised of his own, together with the viewer. This piece is a dual ode to both MAO live the venue, and to new wave, the music movement—two institutions of music that hold relevance then and now. His multimedia work serves as an epitaph to what’s “past,” and well as a milestone to the “future.”

photography by Jonathan Leijonhufvud

In support of Beijing Design Week, Converse presented “Off Canvas” a street-level exhibition of typography design that canvassed the capital city in obscure places that mark China’s thriving creative subcultures.

With over one hundred years behind the brand, the exhibition celebrated two things vital to Converse’s heritage of storytelling– words and type.

“Off Canvas” showcased the work of international and local artists notorious for their artistry of words. Culling from the diverse worlds of graphic design, art, and graffiti, the installations revealed communities and canvases where China’s emerging scenes in indie music, art, fashion and skate are based. The work of artists Benny Luk (Hong Kong), Ying Yonghui (Shanghai), Nod Young (Beijing), Neville Brody (London), Ben Eine (London) and Niels Shoe Meulman (Amsterdam) compose a map that includes the quaint Wudaoying Hutong to the packed streets of Xidan to the art district of 798/D-Park to the façade of the live music venue Mao Livehouse. Check out the installations below.

Artists Benny Luk, Ying Yonghui, Nod Young, Neville Brody, Ben Eine and Niels Shoe Meulman showed their work in a mix of unexpected locations: from the quaint hutongs of Wudaoying and the bustling streets of Xidan to the factories of 798 and Mao Livehouse. Check out the installations below.

Photographer：Jonathan Leijonhufvud