Duan Ni X Shang Wenjie

MO&Co. was founded in 2004.  Its distinctive creative concept, unique individualistic design and tailoring quickly became one of the most popular mainstream fashion brands in China.

For its ten years anniversary celebration of the theme “Love Together”, MO&Co. invites modern dancer Duan Ni and singer songwriter Shang Wenjie to collaborate on a cross-disciplinary fashion video based on love, their aspirations and perseverance in their artistic practice.

Humming, high pitch, sing lightly, scream, holding one’s breath; reaching out, jump, spin, rolling, crawling… two completely different sets of artistic expressions, were set in motion on stage at the same time. From sound to movement, from pose to rhythm, their creativities crossed and merged with each other. In their own ways, each expressed her passion on art and creativity. Love is the expression of everything in this world, in one’s artistic practice, or in fashion design. We pick up the power of love again: Love Together, without borders.

Love breaks boundaries. It’s rich and diverse; so is creativity and style. MO&Co, uses the power of fashion in the spirit of breaking boundaries through fashion design to provoke a resonance. With the direction of cross-disciplinary spirit, singer-songwriter Shang Wenjie meets modern dancer Duan Ni, searching for a cross-disciplinary “resonance” with their dreams and persistence on love and art.

[MO Talk]

Mo&Co. conversation  |  Shang Wenjie & Duan Ni  |

M: Modern dance is an impromptu, free, passionately expression of one’s emotions through the artistic form of body language. As a representative mode of new modern aesthetics, how is “modernity” represented in modern dance?

Duan Ni: For me, there is no technique to speak about in modern dance, while every process is important! For me, the modernity in modern dance is now! In the course of designing its choreography and performance, what I’ve felt from everyday life and the impromptu emotions may all be integrated into it. All of my inspirations come from the most truthful and impromptu emotions without imposing any rules and boundaries, then with the rounds of trials and rehearsals, I present the most elegant physical movements.

M: As a new generation songwriter, what are your thoughts on the younger generation of creative workers in China?

Shang Wenjie: For the new generation of creative talents, I am mostly familiar with fashion designers, musicians and artists. As a music composer born in the post 1980s generation, I think the new generation of creative workers are inclined to accept the clash between cultures of the East and West, as well as having the abilities to integrate them into their own practice.

M: When you are on stage, what is your greatest impression? What kind of spirit are you trying to convey?

Shang Wenjie: My music expresses a state of the self, either in gothic style or through electronics. They convey the state of my true self, a kind of mood that explores a deeper layer of human nature. This is also why artistic creation is interesting. So my performance is the most passionate self-expression of a given time.

Duan Ni: Dance is not only a release and collection of body language, through which the dancer also conveys her emotions and ideas. This includes her facial expressions and gazes. There isn’t a so-called right and wrong in modern dance, when one is performing, one releases her movements liberally to her heart’s content, investing her energy into another space and world as she releases the other self.

M: What do you think of MO-style? Is this your personal style?

Shang Wenjie: As a musician, fashion is one of the visual expressions of my music. MO&Co. gave me the impression of having the courage to change within its classical style. It does not lack personality in the trends of fashion. This is like the two aspects of myself, one that is on stage who enjoys simplicity, but in private, I am not as glamorous and sophisticated. Yet the common character of being on stage and off stage is my simple and straightforwardness, fearlessness and truthfulness. MO style gave me the impression of being cool about its clashing concepts. For example, the design of crane series includes many contrasting elements, and they have been creatively integrated into the garments, shape into a new modern sense, and I like this kind of design.

Duan Ni: My style is to not imitate other people intentionally, but to looking for a true self! My sense of MO-style is like the cultural exchange of dance where clashing and glamour come together, it’s pure and introverted, lively and interesting at the same time. The coming together of these various elements makes one feel wonderful, because the garments embody an individual’s moods at different times.

M: “Love” seems to have always existed in your creativity, what is love to you? Are you in Love now?

Shang Weijie: “Love is the source of a musician’s creativity, with love, one would have all the emotions towards the world; without love, one’s creative inspiration would dry up. The way love is expressed is different, like in my music, sometimes with anger, others with wonder, sometimes joyful, but it’s all about love, it’s the core of my musical expression. I am always in love with my music.

Duan Ni: for me the love in a dance performance is enthusiasm, passion; and on a more profound level, love is manifested artistically through persistence and perseverance. I do what I love.

M: What is your view on the art ecology today that is becoming gradually international and cross-cultural?

Shang Wenjie: I think the time at present presents offers great opportunities. We need more courage to break through these limitations. A fashion designer friend once said to me, “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes in fashion.” I think this is what we need, to have the ability to not be afraid of making mistakes. This is the worst of times and the best of times, some old things have lost their control on us, we expect something new and exciting to emerge. Even if we make mistakes, and we get hurt, or the cross-disciplinary collaboration is based on content rather than form, these are all necessary endeavors.

Duan Ni: Creativity does not distinguish between East and West, art is borderless, and any kind of radical or free encounter would produce wonderful new meanings.