Some of my friends already know for a while that I have been interested in exploring the fan as multifunctional object. A small publication about an international fan design competition, that took place in Guangzhou, triggered my interest.
The most common usage of the fan is to move air so as to provide some coolness.
But the fan can also be seen as a screen, not only in the sense of a surface carrying an image or texture, but also in the sense of it creating a division between the person holding the fan, and the others. You could say it divides the private from the public. How one holds the fan, and waves the fan, generates specific gestures. Sometimes these gestures are merely mechanical and functional, at other times, these gestures are more about body language, and creating a certain vibe. A year ago I collected quotes about the fan that address various characteristics.
You can download these quotes here > waaiervancitaten.
Now that I am here, in Guangzhou, where fans are ubiquitous, I plan to dive deeper into the fan phenomenon.
One thing I’ll do is regularly  post photos of the fan in action on the Guangzhou streets.