Sabrina Muzi's shamanic performance defends Baishizhou village

Italian artist Sabrina Muzi (born 1964, San Benedetto del Tronto) completed a residency at Handshake 302, an independent space in Shenzhen's Baishizhou village directed by Zhang Kaqin, Wu Dan, Liu He, Lei Sheng, and Mary Ann O'Donnell. Opened in October 2013, the space invites artists to explore the urban village. Muzi, who previously resided in Kunming (2010) and Taipei (2013), created a performative action in June 2017 titled 'Wandering Baishizhou.' She collected discarded clothes and objects from residents to craft three shamanic costumes, which were worn by performers walking through the narrow alleys in a protective ritual against gentrification. Baishizhou, a densely populated village with closely built 'handshake' houses, contrasts with Shenzhen's modern towers and faces demolition for upscale development. Muzi's work highlights the displacement of low-income migrant workers. The project will culminate in a video work. Handshake 302 aims to foster dialogue between art and local communities.