Li Hongzhang, also known as the ‘Bismarck of the East’, was travelling through Europe as a diplomatic envoy in 1896. During his stay in Germany, he met with statesmen, government officials and leading industrialists, including Friedrich Alfred Krupp. His aim was twofold: to consolidate economic relations with the West and to purchase armaments. Li’s diplomatic mission failed to achieve many of its aims, and what followed was one of the most turbulent and chaotic chapters in China’s history.
‘Heterophony: July 1896’ reinterprets Li Hongzhang’s visit at Villa Hügel and his meeting with his host, Friedrich Alfred Krupp. The work interweaves reality with imagination and recounts the interactions between the protagonists from the perspective of a fictional musician who was present to entertain the guests on this special occasion. Enriched with music, archival documents and film footage, the video traces the story of one of the most controversial figures in Chinese history. Further details are drawn from contemporary reports in the German and French press on Li’s visit.