Write on, Shanghai - foreign scribes muse on city marvels

By Nancy Zhang | 2009-11-4 | NEWSPAPER EDITION

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SHANGHAI'S got the write stuff as five international writers discover in a two-month stay that takes them from the glittering facade to a deeper level of art and poetry. Nancy Zhang turns the page. For five international writers, the international city of Shanghai was home - and perhaps muse - for two months.

Writers from Ireland, the United Kingdom, Greece and Norway were invited by the Shanghai Writers' Association in an international literature exchange to get the feel of life and maybe to be inspired.

The five are Conal Creedon, Leanne O'Sullivan, Tash Aw, Alexis Stematis and Ragnar Hovland.

They attended cultural events, literary talks and forums, and wandered and traveled about to feel the rhythms and textures of the city.

"Our aim is not so much to require writers to write about Shanghai, but to contribute to their creativity with the diversity of experiences that living in Shanghai brings," says Hu Peihua, external liaison officer for the Shanghai Writers' Association.

The important role of place and home in the creative process is at the center of the exchange, which featured poetry and prose forums on the theme "Where Do I Come From?"

At the end of the exchange last week, Shanghai Daily speaks to the writers about their experiences in and reflections on our city.

Conal Creedon is an Irish story writer, novelist, playwright and television documentary maker. As well as writing sold-out plays such as "When I was God," Creedon has worked as a radio presenter with RTE (Ireland's national TV and radio broadcaster) and a columnist for The Irish Times.

Q: Tell us about the poem "Shanghai Bean?"

A: The word "bean" is an Irish Gaelic word meaning woman, so the title of the poem means "Women of Shanghai."

I arrived in Shanghai seven weeks ago, and the images in the poem were myfirst impressions.

For example, I found the people doing exercises in the parks each morning fascinating - one never sees this in the West. I was also impressed by how regal, comfortable and calm the women who sit sideways on bicycles looked, especially during rush-hour traffic.

The poem is a snapshot of many different aspects of the many different women I see in my neighborhood. All the various snapshots came together as one woman in the poem.

Q: What inspired you most?

A: We have a saying in the Irish language, "Nil aon tintean mar do thinean fein," meaning, "There's no place like home." So I like to establish a sense of home, community and neighborhood wherever I live.

In Shanghai, home was the cluster of streets around Changshou and Jiangning roads, what I call "Jade Buddha Valley." When I feel at home, I feel inspired to write.

I've been invited to some great social engagements as part of this exchange, including events organized by Le Ceile (Irish community in Shanghai). But I'm happiest hanging out in my neighborhood - sitting in Changshou Park, playing pool on Xujiahui Road, or sipping Chinese tea on Shaanxi Road while watching the world go by.

Tash Aw is a British-Malaysian writer acclaimed for his first novel "The Harmony Silk Factory," about a Chinese-Malaysian family during the Japanese invasion of World War II. Aw lives in London where he is working on his third novel set in Shanghai.

Q: How do you plan to use your experiences here?

A: I came here firstly because I've always been fascinated with Shanghai, and secondly because the novel I'm working on is set in Shanghai.

I have the beginning of my novel, which is about a group of foreigners coming to Shanghai to seek fame and fortune - and of course love. Can't say more than that at the moment, as it is all top secret!

Q: What inspired you most?