2022 / Residency, collective rehearsal, interactive performance and work in public space

World Question Center: Hangzhou Residency and A Common Festival

A month of collective work, from rehearsals at OōEli to a relocated programme on a public lawn.

The title A Common Festival and event details overlap in a colourful looping poster — Animated poster published after the relocation of A Common Festival, 3 May 2022; its complete loop is preserved.

He Fa’s role: One of five project initiators; a named performer in A Common Festival
Co-initiators: Shen Bolun, Shao Yifan, Qu Wenhao, Jiang Haizhu and He Fa
Announced residency period: 7 April–6 May 2022, Hangzhou
Programme change: Falling into Alice Lake at OōEli cancelled; 3 May notice relocated the programme to Qianjiang Century Park

Complete chapter contents

A month within a temporary collective

In April 2022, P4 accepted an invitation from the World Question Center to undertake a month of collective work in Hangzhou. The call named Shen Bolun, Shao Yifan, Qu Wenhao, Jiang Haizhu and He Fa as five initiators and invited local participants. North Wind Theatre also pursued rehearsals for Iceberg 2.0, with new members joining through writing, rehearsal and discussion. He Fa’s later signed retrospective confirms the residency and retains its disagreements, conflicts and divisions.

Falling into Alice Lake, planned for 4 May at OōEli, proposed an interactive performance at the reflecting pool and a theatre party across several floors. A 30 April notice from BY ART MATTERS cancelled that performance; P4’s 3 May announcement moved the programme to the lawn of Qianjiang Century Park as A Common Festival. The revised programme named He Fa alongside Qingzhu, Dafang, Aigua, Zhang Xiao, Muli and others, retaining vocal interaction, Howlers on the Grass, Bed Theatre and a collection of embraces.

Keeping changes within the work’s record

The July retrospective lists A Common Festival among works produced during this period. This archive keeps the April plan, May relocation notice and later account together, distinguishing the residency, rehearsals, cancellation and move. It does not present the original OōEli plan as a completed performance there, or treat publicity graphics as proof that every lawn-programme component took place.

Works & details

A black-on-white statement about the changed performance programme — Cancellation notice issued by BY ART MATTERS on 30 April 2022, reproduced in P4’s relocation announcement on 3 May.

Moving image & related documents

Archive note

Compiled from contemporary public calls, project descriptions and later records. Retrospective accounts and announcements retain their distinct dates; English translations were prepared for this archive.

Continue exploring

2021–2022↗

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2021↗

Purples / Purple Action

Roles, rules, speech and collective judgment become theatre within a jointly constructed fictional world.

Collaborative practice

2022↗

Vortex

A month of rehearsals and changing participants forms the company’s second production.

Collaborative practice

2015–present↗

P4 Theater

Spaces, participants, events and documentation change one another through sustained work.

Collaborative practice

Work record

World Question Center: Hangzhou Residency and A Common Festival, 2022. Residency, collective rehearsal, interactive performance and work in public space. He Fa’s role: One of five project initiators; a named performer in A Common Festival.

Work / series: World Question Center: Hangzhou Residency and A Common Festival
Date: 2022
Medium: Residency, collective rehearsal, interactive performance and work in public space
He Fa’s role: One of five project initiators; a named performer in A Common Festival
Catalogue section: Collaborative practice

Cite this record: World Question Center: Hangzhou Residency and A Common Festival · 2022 · One of five project initiators; a named performer in A Common Festival · https://hefa.p4theater.cn/en/work/wqc-hangzhou-residency

Read Markdown ↓All work records ↗

TAKE A PATH ACROSS

Other paths from this work.

Spaces transformed
How a place is rearranged
World Question Center: Hangzhou Residency and A Common Festival Sanhetan
Sanhetan reconnects photographs of snow, amusement structures and waterside scenes; the Hangzhou residency archive retains cancellation and relocation. One rearranges space within images, while the other has to bring people together again.
2022 / Residency, collective rehearsal, interactive performance and work in public space
2010 / Photography, archival pigment print
Read the source materials
1. Work imageWorks & details ↗
  The three images show snowy trees and a watercourse, amusement structures in snow, and boats with a waterside pavilion; rectangular photographic seams run throughout.
2. Period documentKeeping changes within the work’s record ↗
  The April proposal, May relocation notice and July account separately record plans, cancellation and relocation, and later recollection, retaining their distinct event status.
Continue from this work ↗
Spaces transformed
Scale follows a venue; venues meet reality
World Question Center: Hangzhou Residency and A Common Festival Lose losing
Lose losing’s record leaves dimensions dependent on the exhibition space; the Hangzhou residency retains cancellation and relocation. One preserves formal adaptability, while the other records actual spatial changes affecting shared production.
2022 / Residency, collective rehearsal, interactive performance and work in public space
2014 / Any surface suitable for projection
Read the source materials
1. Period documentFrom photographs to a projectable image ↗
  The portfolio medium entry specifies any projectable material, with dimensions determined by the venue; the record supplies no screening duration.
2. Period documentKeeping changes within the work’s record ↗
  The April proposal, May relocation notice and July account separately record plans, cancellation and relocation, and later recollection, retaining their distinct event status.
Continue from this work ↗
DOCUMENT RECORD
Spaces transformed
Taking turns and moving temporarily
World Question Center: Hangzhou Residency and A Common Festival Long Long Ago / Project Proposal
Long Long Ago proposes rotating gatherings through San Francisco neighbourhoods; the Hangzhou residency experienced recruitment, cancellation and relocation. Shared spaces depend on organization in both, but planned routes and documented changes remain distinct.
2022 / Residency, collective rehearsal, interactive performance and work in public space
2017 / Collective art project proposal · Proposals
Read the source materials
1. Period documentWorking together in the proposal ↗
  The original proposal envisages artists from different neighbourhoods taking turns to host activities; recruitment and the year-long schedule are plans, not completion records.
2. Period documentKeeping changes within the work’s record ↗
  The April proposal, May relocation notice and July account separately record plans, cancellation and relocation, and later recollection, retaining their distinct event status.
Continue from this work ↗