The Second Stop: 80 Days Walking in Shanghai – The Generation Y (1981-1996) Vintage objects Exhibition
80後是特殊的一代人，作為中國歷史上鮮見的一代獨生子女，雖然得到了父母的獨寵，成年後卻背負著前所未有的社會壓力，同時也見證了整個上海的劇烈變化。當80後離開校園開始成家立業逐漸走向而立之年的時候，許多人就漸漸地產生了懷舊情懷。他們細數著童年時玩過的遊戲，懷念著童年時代吃過的零食，也許還會翻看自己的箱子和抽屜去尋找童年玩過的玩具，再次閱讀小時候喜歡的漫畫，重溫童年時代的電影電視劇，聽一聽童年時喜歡的歌曲，或許是回到母校去走一走看一看……80後的懷舊情懷逐漸地產生了共鳴，並在網絡上產生了一些集體懷舊的現象，然而伴隨80後一起成長的學習及生活用品幾乎都已經消失了，取而代之的是各種高科技電子設備。這次位於黃浦江邊的80情懷物品展展出了80年代出生的孩子們常用物品，讓這一代人偶爾從電子設備的捆綁中解脫出來，回憶起無憂無慮的時光以及朋友間純粹的友誼。
Gen Y is a special generation in China. As an only child of a generation rarely seen in Chinese history, they have been pampered by their parents, however as they have grown up, they are under unprecedented social pressure and have witnessed dramatic changes in Shanghai. As the Gen Y left campus and started to start families and businesses, many people gradually developed nostalgia. They count the games they played, remember the snacks they ate, perhaps go through their boxes and drawers to find toys they used to play with, read the comics they loved, relive the movies and TV dramas they watched, or listen to the songs they were found of in their childhood, even go back to their alma mater for a walk… The nostalgia of Gen Y has gradually resonated and generated some collective nostalgia on the Internet. This exhibition of 80’s vintage objects by the Huangpu River showcases objects commonly used by children born in the 1980s, making these people occasionally break free from the bondage of digital devices and bring them back to a carefree time and pure friendship among friends.
照片中校園文藝團的小女孩們參加少年宮文娛節目，顏色鮮艷的頭飾及服裝是那個時代所有少年表演團的共同點。上側的連環畫繪本則為精簡版中國名著，是當時孩子們的課外讀物。In the photo, the little girls of the Campus Literary Group participate in the Juvenile Palace entertainment program, and the brightly colored headdresses and costumes are common to all juvenile performance groups of that era. The picture comic book on the top is a condensed version of a famous Chinese novel, which was an extracurricular book for children at the time.
The three boys in the group were a hit with the girls in the 80’s and ’90s when they were on all the radio and music cassette sets on TV.
The Lotus Windmill toy, which spins at high speed when you press the petal in the middle of the handle at the bottom, just like a flower in full bloom, is the best toy to pass the time in an age without digital devices.
Table settings and a shuttlecock. Two kids who are about to kiss have no practical purpose, just to pose. The shuttlecock is a must-have for every child, and special shuttlecock-kicking lessons are even arranged in the school’s physical education classes.
A Huge roll of bubble gum. A box of gum is very inexpensive at only RMB 0.5 and tastes great too, this bubble gum is plentiful enough to blow bubbles bigger than your face while satisfying both the delicious and fun properties for kids.
A two-line armband and a pencil case with a multiplication chart printed on it for outstanding students. It’s a must-have for good students. The multiplication chart helps every schoolboy and schoolgirl with math difficulties to easily figure out all multiplication operations within 9*9; and only students who are in the top five in a class of 40 people for six consecutive months are eligible for the two-line armband, which I’ve never even gotten in my 12-year secondary school period!
Kids’ tricycles. To give kids a sense of fun when they don’t have to ride a bike, this three-wheeled bike is both safe and easy to control. Parents didn’t have to worry at all about their children falling and injuring themselves, and it was a must-have child transport for every family at the time.
Shanghai ‘DaBaiTu’ Milk Candy. The Milk Candy is a Shanghai specialty and a brand that has grown up with Gen Y. The quality of the milk candy is good and it is full of milk flavor, making it a must-have snack for every child.
The boys’ dream star of RTHK. The Hong Kong and Taiwan stars of that time were all the rage in Mainland China and could be seen in both movies and TV shows. Their pure and beautiful looks and their pure acting skills conquered countless viewers.
Pioneer Tennis Rackets. People were using wooden tennis rackets at the time, but I never met anyone I knew who played tennis, after all, it was an aristocratic sport that civilians couldn’t afford to play.
Aluminum kettle. At that time, it was a necessity in every family’s home kitchen, and our tap water could not be consumed directly, so it had to be boiled with this large capacity kettle.
The classic 80’s TV series “Journey to the West". Based on the famous Chinese book of the same name, this TV series has been replayed every summer for 20 years by the actor LiuXiaoLinTong as the Sun Wukong.
Children’s Piano. Families who can’t afford a real piano, to give their children a taste of the beauty of music, usually choose such a mini version, which can be used as a toy or as a musical teaching aid.
15″ color TV. At that time, when Japanese anime and comics were being introduced in large numbers, watching “Dunking Master" in front of the TV every day after school became one of the fondest memories of Gen Y. It can be said that many people’s values were created by Japanese anime and manga.
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