This blog is part of a series of written reflections by MA Documentary Film students at UAL. The students collaborated in small groups to create short films which responded to the David Usborne Collection. You can watch this film on our social media.
This object from the David Osbourne Collection came to our attention when Gabriel took a fascination to the object. Found in the non European materials section, a Chinese symbol that represents prosperity and good fortune. It was very easy to embrace the symbol and deconstruct it because of the fact we could understand it in a way we wouldn’t normally be able to had we not had the right global perspectives. Interestingly Gabriel noticed the object was correct in one picture and upside down in another - rendering the meaning and symbol obsolete. To the eyes of the ordinary non Chinese speaking audience one would not notice the difference but for someone familiar with the symbol and its cultural context, the meaning of the object was missed.
This symbol is placed in shops to attract good luck and good fortune. “Congratulations and be prosperous” - pronounced ‘fa’ commonly used in the sentence ‘gong xi fa chai’ often used as a greeting for example in Chinese new year. 恭喜發財 . Interestingly this kind of greeting can be identified in many cultures, despite the many religions and differences, we all have our own set of superstitions. At the end of the day, one would never want to wish bad luck on someone. Red is also the symbol of good luck and fortune in Chinese culture, which is why red envelopes are given out during Chinese New Year. However you cannot write someones name in red as it symbolises wishing death.
Together we went and searched for footage that we believed represented prosperity. Gabriel went to Chinatown in Liverpool to find the symbol wherever he could. Luckily as Chinese New Year took place just last month it was the perfect opportunity to find the symbol. Carolina filmed an old painting with gold paper to represent her interpretation of prosperity. Carolina wanted gold as a representation of prosperity tying in with her cultural background in South America; the Incas in Peru had walls that were covered in gold, called the children of the sun but they did not have the same relationship with gold as the Europeans did. When the Spanish arrived the Incas were more than happy to give away the gold as they were not attached to gold as the Spanish were. They did not define themselves by their prosperity. I filmed my definition of prosperity in Borough market, as one of my definitions of prosperity includes the abundance of food, of different flavours, cultures and quantities. Footage was sent to Gabriel and music was provided by Hugh.
Collaborating together was an easy and efficient flow, despite facing the difficulties of being completely online. We were open and accepting which helped move the project forward very quickly. Despite being different, we found common elements that united all our cultures.
Wishing everyone good luck, prosperity and good fortune in life.