On December 28th 2007, chinese characters were proud to present another installation and performance by PANDA TV.
Panda TV is a show conceived in two parts, that of a variety show, and that of an interactive installation. The event takes place in Klub Vittula, a bar in downtown Budapest, and in the next door gallery, Chinese Characters.
Panda art group put together the scenery from their props department, (i.e. the assorted odds and ends from our grandmothers' flats.). The costumes were conceived by dr Kissritapanda and Őry Kati, and created with much help from pandas and non-pandas. The show was hosted by Szőke Gergő and Molnar Laci. Grandma was played by Bognar Zsofi.
The show took place in Vittula and was transmitted by a "live feed" into Grandma's living room, where it was shown on an old television set. The audience was encouraged to watch the show live and occasionally to leave the bar and wander into Grandma's house where they would receive hospitality from Grandma in the form of christmas drinks, chocolates, sweets, and kind words. 
Grandma tended to watch TV a lot, and the volume was a little high, but other than that she was a wonderful hostess. Sometimes the variety show was transmitted using the camera microphone, sometimes only the stage hand held microphone. Christmas time with grandma is always a time to remember. Grandma has her tasteful collections around her, she has crocheted antimacassar, she has a picture of her old faithful, ornaments from lost loves and close friends. Our friends are in the bar on stage, in the audience laughing, or sitting with us watching TV.
Will Grandma be the all embracing mother, loved and revered? Or will she be forgotten when it comes to doing the cleaning up? A sad old lady alone with her television set, watching all the young ones having fun she doesn't understand?
Taken December 28, 2007 at the opening night
