Artist name: Ms. Catherine Schoch
Nationality: Australian
Time in Global Exchange Center: 4 weeks from June 1st. 2014
As an artist from Brisbane, Australia my experience in undertaking a
Photography Scholarship Residency has been very rewarding. With great
organisation and assistance form the Global Exchange Centre I have
been well supported in making the cultural shift from a Western life
to an Eastern one.
With language lessons from Wang that also included insights into
Chinese history and culture my knowledge of Beijing and China as a
whole has expanded. Learning the language in so short a time is
difficult but Wang has generously focused on areas that are important
in my short 4-week stay – like ordering food and shopping!
Support has also been generously given by several Chinese English
language students who have helped me navigate Hutongs, The Great Wall
and the Panjiayuan Antique Market. I have taken many photographs and
will continue to do so hoping to have an exhibition of the work when I
am back in Australia giving my home country an insight into
contemporary China.
