Chinese artist to visit New Zealand

Chinese artist Mu Yuming will be in New Zealand in Feburary and March 2010 to paint the portraits and video interviews with the descendants of the first Chinese settlers, but there's something else about the project.

"It's not just about the people and their stories," says Mu, a talented painter who has spent a decade in Europe. "There is something greater we are trying to explore - not just personal identity - but human identity."

Mu is well placed to investigate these issues. One of his parents is of the Naxi ethnic group, the other from the Han majority. He grew up in the Yunnan capital of Kunming, but now is returning to the land.His ultimate goal to to be a farmer.

Mu, and New Zealand writer and photographer Keith Lyons (now living in south-west China's Lijiang) have received funding from Internal Affairs' Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust fund, set up as part of an apology to the harsh and unfair treatment of Chinese gold miners and early settlers.

Together they've be travelling around New Zealand in the footsteps of the gold prospectors, starting first in the central Otago Goldfields.

In Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch they'll be taking part in the Chinese New Year and lantern festivals, with both demonstrating the ancient Naxi pictograph writing as well as Mu painting portraits live.

The pair are looking for New Zealanders to be involved in the 20-Day Project, a collaborate, multi-media project undertaken in four other countries. "We are looking for artists, non-artists, Chinese New Zealanders and art students to be involved in various activities in different locations," says Mu.

"We are also looking for video assistants to film and edit interviews, as well as donations of oil paints."