A place where young people can shine

Tang, 41, an art teacher at a public junior high school, has been involved in social art practice since 2018, and has addressed important issues such as domestic violence and children's mental health problems. He ran a chat club at the school and conducted an important but anonymous survey, which showed that domestic violence against children often takes the form of control "in the name of love" and verbal attacks that reflect the impact of social pressure.

The reason Tang decided to run the chat club was because he was a victim of domestic violence. He recalls that his father used physical violence against his mother and siblings. Growing up in a rural area, he considered himself a left-behind, migrant child at the time. "My life underwent constant change in the absence of my parents," he says.

Tang became a resident of Binlianxincun in October 2017. The urban village's mixed demographic of city workers and those from rural areas, along with its diversity of ages and family situations, prompted him to create an experimental space.

He rented a shop in 2017 at a cost of around 20,000 yuan (about $2,780) per year. He named it Quality Time Variety Store, meaning it's not just a grocery store, but a space that offers companionship and a sense of togetherness.

"As an artist, I used to focus on creating physical work such as sculptures and installations. But I gradually felt the pull toward a more participatory and action-oriented practice. This shift in my approach led me to envision a practical and sustainable space where I could not only create art, but also live and breathe creativity," Tang says.

His aspiration was to establish a space that is not just a short-term endeavor, but a long-term commitment to building a community of artistic expression and collaboration.

Tang sells an array of items ranging from sweet potato liquor, peanut oil and honey, to daily necessities and books. However, what sets the store apart are its vibrant and diverse events. From concerts and salons to independent film screenings, Tang has established a hub for community engagement, relaxation, and artistic expression. The store provides a space for residents and travelers to come together, converse, and even find temporary lodging.

About six months after the Quality Time Variety Store opened, a distressed child appeared one midnight in May 2018. Her disheveled appearance and clothes caked in dirt immediately caught Tang's attention.

He tried to reach out to her, but she was resistant and rude. The next day she returned to the store and asked for snacks. Tang established a connection with the girl, who is called Yueliang (Moon). As he got to know her, he learned about her troubled past, including being adopted at birth and not attending school.

Yueliang's resistance to school might have stemmed from her difficult childhood, making it challenging for any educational institution to accept her.

Tang decided to teach her basic reading and counting skills when she came to the store. "What I was most concerned about was if she continued to wander alone in the middle of the night, she might face potential danger," he says.

"I had approached Yueliang with sympathy, but as time passed, I began to realize that the girl's actions were often misunderstood by others. It dawned on me that perhaps they were a result of her unique perspective, her own inner world that is different from ours," Tang says.

Despite the initial confusion and concerns over Yueliang's behavior, it turned out that her intentions were often born of generosity. Her mother told Tang one day that the girl had taken 800 yuan from her. Later, they found out that she was actually taking the money to treat her friends to a dinner.

Realizing conventional education wouldn't work, Tang tailored an education program for Yueliang, as he discovered that she was talented at painting. "Yueliang is now 14 years old and I want to represent her work pro bono and support her until she reaches 18.Perhaps then she can use the money she has accumulated from her artworks for her adult life," Tang says.