I had a great time participating in the WNBR 2023 event on the 10th of June. Based on my cultural background, for me it is about recognizing myself and experiencing the world in an extreme way.Next, I will discuss the experience in terms of self-experience and the event.
Firstly, whatever the significance of this event, it is an extreme behavior for my cultural background. Because, in my cultural and educational background, nudity in public is never allowed, whatever the meaning of the behavior may be. This not being allowed is the belief that nudity is bad, shameful, sexually related and not to be displayed. In an event attended by thousands of people, I met less than 10 Asians and three Chinese women, including myself. So when I engaged with it, I had a strong experience of using my body to explore and break cultural boundaries.
Next, I would like to say HOW CAN WE USE OUR BODIES TO CONTROL THE DEMARCATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE? This is the ‘how can’ question that I asked in my previous project. In the project I tried to explore this question using a conceptual model and photographs of the interviewees. However, the image of me in the nude, riding through the streets of London with other passers-by watching us on both sides of the road, made the question very interesting. The space is the streets of London, an absolute public place.Nudity is myself, an absolute private. But when a group of naked people are on the streets of London, there is a very clear division between private and public.We can think of the whole cycling group as a moving private space. In this space, we are independent and we are also in group. Also, the cycling group is a very safe space with a protective nature. Even in a public space, showing the most private parts of the group, there is still an invisible and clear boundary. As a result, I also experienced using my body to explore the boundaries of the private and the public.
Another experience is the awareness of the body. During this event, the body was treated with respect. From my own point of view, I realised that the body is an object and can carry no emotion or meaning.It is as naturally present and peaceful as a tree, a stone, a sand and a wind, an atom made up. It’s just that under different cultures, people have given too much meaning to the body, which leads us to often be unable to see our own bodies.When I was naked on the streets of one of the busiest cities in the whole world, all the tags about my body disappeared. I have felt a sense that, in the present moment, I am me. No definitions from anyone, no cultural limitations, no gazing, no shame, just me. I respect everything about myself, and I respect everything about the world and nature. I can’t define it as a physical or mind liberation, but it did give me a chance to get new feelings. It also confirms the saying, “Every atom in your body came from a star that exploded, and the atoms in your left hand probably came from a different star than your right hand. It really is the most poetic thing I know about physics: You are all stardust.”——A theoretical physicist, Krauss proclaimed. I really experienced myself as a stardust.
Finally, if this event was an intervention, it gave me a lot of inspiration and motivation.It also provoked me to keep thinking about the body, about the environment and nature, and to keep understanding the relationship between the body and the world. More importantly, as an intervention, I learnt a lot from it. Firstly, WNBR has developed a culture of influencing people through cycling. It is not just the participants who ride, but every passer-by is a stakeholder, and the essence is to make a huge impact on the event in the simplest and most ingenious way possible – by riding. Secondly, the organisers of the event were very clear about the various policies of the event. For example, the photo policy, legality, behaviour, PA Equipment, had clear requirements and recommendations for the photo policy, which made the participants feel safe. It is also crucial to ensure that the roads are safe. Thirdly, the organisers and participants are responsible for each other during the event. The participants, in particular, have the primary responsibility for their own protection in this particular situation. The organisers’ website also urges to say NO to any photos and actions that create discomfort. it should be a joint responsibility of both parties when faced with risks. Finally, at the end of the ride, I think the organisers need to make improvements. Although the risks that participants may face at the finish line are stated on the website, the organisers should have made clearer actions to reduce the risks in the atmosphere of the event. For example, a sticker that all participants could arrive with for identification. When participants see someone without a sticker ready to take a photo, they can mention to be prepared to refuse.