A research project based in Guangzhou, China, Abracadabra! seeks in-depth communication and information sharing with active self-organizations; within a not yet clearly defined stage of liminality, the project captures and presents the phenomenon of “creation” and practice methods found in these self-organizations — the new generation of art practitioners commonly hold a more relaxed attitude of “mutual help” and “collaboration,” though each may have their own distinctive, highly individualized working methods.

Utilizing the research like a magical phrase, focusing on scenes of action and working methods behind a wide range of productions, we hope to highlight the unique power embodied in the oral accounts and achievements of these practitioners, as well as to further reflect on whether such community-based, self-organized actions could provide alternative ways of practice for Art (or other fields). The issues we focus on include, and are not limited to, how the actions of different creative groups begin to take root; the ways in which collective practice forges new modes of organization and motivates self-renewal in individuals; the significance of friendship in collective practice, etc.

Findings from our first period of research is curated into a small archival exhibition, developed mainly based on the working methods and text production (here defined as the generation of written records in any form) of four self-organizations: Fong Fo, 44Monthly, High Pressure Club, and Jasagala. Some of them put special emphasis on intellectual communication and collisions between members, some are intended to “bring together friends from diverse backgrounds,” some are producing low-cost, long term, “fluid” periodicals, and some adopt collaboration as a method of self-education. This exhibition attempts to illustrate several aforementioned approaches, aided by what has come out of them (e.g. publications and moving image works).

Practice is always on-going; through continuous self-analysis and self-reflection, practitioners are able to establish innovative forms of output, which expand, in turn, our existing perception of what is art, and how it is produced.

Published in 2022
21 x 27.7cm (fully opened: 84.5 x 30.8cm)
36 pages
Chinese and English