“Blossom Fever on Avenue Joffre” (桥富李街上的花季)

Visitors are often intrigued by this striking artwork, which features four hands, closing and opening slowly, like flowers blooming and withering. Instead of the classic rice paper background, these LEDs glimmer through a layer of sand. The inspiration for Blossom Fever comes from the touching traditions of the desert bedouins of Saudi Arabia, who greets fellow tribesmen from other parts of the country by saying “ Fih hayah ?”, literally, “Is there life?”. The weathered folk who survive harsh desert conditions must know where to find vegetation in the unforgiving, arid landscape. In Blossom Fever, Liu Dao thinks of the legions of people who have travelled to the golden metropolis of Shanghai, similarly seeking new sources of “life”, dependent on their hands and street smarts to eke out a new beginning.

Between the blistering hot summers and the icy cold winds of the winter, Shanghai has always had very little to offer in terms of joyous weather. Even during the few best months of the year, if it isn’t the infestation of mosquitoes, the infinite showers of today’s acid-like rain prevent anyone from enjoying the luxurious terraces of the city or back in the day, the grounds of the Shanghai Race Club. But through these annoying rains, our enjoyment is sacrificed for the proliferation of natural beauty, growing in the form of dainty daisies at the bottom of the lusciously green poplar trees of the French Concession. So take pleasure in them when strolling along the timeless alleys – or let your dog mark his territory. But please, avoid the flowers!

Blurb credit: Jack Mur

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