In December 2009, on the anniversary of the Rape of Nanjing, Li Xinmo invited Japanese performance artist Shimizu Megumi to the Other Gallery in the 798 Art Zone to perform the work, "The Place Where Ethnicity and Politics Vanish." As is widely known, Japan invaded China during World War II, causing immense suffering and trauma. The Rape of Nanjing is a historical event with tremendous symbolic meaning. Even today, the view of the Japanese as enemies is still prevalent and gaining momentum among the Chinese masses. At the same time, nationalism is also on the rise.
In this work, Li Xinmo explores issues of ethnicity and identity. Li Xinmo and Shimizu Megumi each wore clothing representing their respective ethnic groups and sat facing each other, gazing into each other's eyes. They took turns painting the other person’s national flag on each other’s headscarves. Afterward, they removed each other’s flags, rolled them up, and sat on them. Then, they sat and gazed at each other before removing each other’s ethnically marked clothing. They continued to look at each other, eventually using their hands to feel each other’s heartbeat. Finally, they helped each other put on black hoods and then exited the space, holding hands.
In the end, the viewers were left with the sight of their bodies, which were the same and devoid of any ethnic signifiers or differences. This work offered a new perspective on the production of ethnicity and created a shared path toward resolving ethnic hatred.
