“Shanghai Street Mao” (2006)
by FAILE
18 x 24, screen and remarking on 140 lb paper (edition of 15)
Coppola Collection

“Shanghai Street Nixon” (2006)
by FAILE
18 x 24, screen and remarking on 140 lb paper (edition of 15)
Coppola Collection

Shanghai Street is a 2.3 km long street in the Jordan, Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok areas of Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Completed in 1887 under the name of Station Street, it was once the most prosperous street in Kowloon.

Before the 1970s when Nathan Road became prosperous, Shanghai Street was the leading business corridor in Hong Kong. The shops there were originally related to traditional Chinese trades and livelihoods, including shops selling traditional wedding dresses, fung shui tools, pawnshops and books. From the 1970s to 1990s, the Mong Kok area of Shanghai Street was characterised by a wide variety of hostess clubs and other venues related to the sex trade; these continue to trade alongside the traditional businesses and residential units.

Nixon’s visit to China, which began 21 February 1972, was a field day for the news media. The Chinese permitted American television crews to set up modern studio and transmitting facilities.

The final document issued from this trip, known as the Shanghai Communiqué, summarized points on which the two nations could agree. One point was that there was only one China and that Taiwan was part of China. Another was that the Taiwan issue must be settled peacefully by the Chinese. A third was that the United States was committed to “the ultimate objective of the withdrawal of all U.S. forces and military installations from Taiwan” in the context of a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue.