Recently I did a bit traveling between cities in Asia and have found how eager the local government there brands the city to promote trades and tourism. Such as Hong Kong where I live, it has branded itself as the “Asia’s World City” since a few years ago. However it reads a bit bizarre, it’s more important to concentrate what it means. I understand branding as more or less a proactive move for one’s own product to establish an image, which is not equivalent to reality, something good to see in others’ lens. But then who are “we” if “we” decided to be “Asia” as well as “World”. We might even argue if this statement is just, after all it may be only a wish. Instead, I am interested to think if an Asia’s world city could really exist. How and where it could be? Even in which continent?
Not long ago, I emailed to all in my address book to ask for wishes for “Asia’s World City” and I got responses from more than 70 people, making more than 400 wishes after some repetitions. Among them are more mainstream ideas on politics, economy, education and environmental issues. There are also some weird entries, kind of personal and even imaginative, like “all female police force”, “cheap lychee martini” and “jealousy-free zones”, etc. To the art people, of course there are hot topics like “international biennale” and “museum of contemporary art” too.
In the first fortnight of September 2008, there will be vernissages of at least nine biennales or triennales in Asia. By 2015, there will be a thousand more museums in China; and a 40-plus hectare-cultural district in Hong Kong including a museum of contemporary art at size of Tate Modern. When famous museums in West are opening branches in Asia, where is “Asia”? Where is “World”? And where is “City”?
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