不平衡 A Photographic Opinion Of China
Metal and Wood
The seat, a civil product of necessity and support. "I find myself assembled and crossing the perimeters of my prior function. There is a lack of us outside, except facing congested 9am roads. Instead we are makeshift. Personalised spaces are carved out from our rotting materials". A visual language of contrasts is formed, where often the re-purposed seat is heavily reliant on its counterparts. Below, a 'Don't Fall In Seat'.
Metal and Wood
The seat, a civil product of necessity and support. "I find myself assembled and crossing the perimeters of my prior function. There is a lack of us outside, except facing congested 9am roads. Instead we are makeshift. Personalised spaces are carved out from our rotting materials". A visual language of contrasts is formed, where often the re-purposed seat is heavily reliant on its counterparts. Below, a 'Don't Fall In Seat'.
The 6th image is not for luck; the 'Submission Seat' found in the interrogation room of a police station where I had once spent 6 hours. I mocked and feared this torture throne. (I would go on to spend another 6 or 7 hours in a police station again, but that's another story I'll never retell).
Wood and Earth
.... 'The desk' as barrier, safe-guard, fort or re-imagined.
.... 'The desk' as barrier, safe-guard, fort or re-imagined.
To hang-up. Cured meat and clothes occupying egalitarian importance! They hang precariously.
People....
Trying to avoid bad anthropology, I found myself drawn towards clothing, especially those imbued in Chinglish. Whilst it is common to find all sorts of humor in this, I think it's an easy game which has become self-aware. Instead, I looked for contextual language, which may not translate adequately here. Even so, it has meaning to me. Below is the easiest example; a University dormitory I lived opposite for a short time. The building is constantly adorned in washed blankets during warmer semesters. Concrete modernism decorated in pastel patterns. Binary genital dormitories exist seperated behind gated curfews in an attempt to delay the inevitable. This is the same building pre-semester and first week back. Can you guess which sex it is ascribed?
Trying to avoid bad anthropology, I found myself drawn towards clothing, especially those imbued in Chinglish. Whilst it is common to find all sorts of humor in this, I think it's an easy game which has become self-aware. Instead, I looked for contextual language, which may not translate adequately here. Even so, it has meaning to me. Below is the easiest example; a University dormitory I lived opposite for a short time. The building is constantly adorned in washed blankets during warmer semesters. Concrete modernism decorated in pastel patterns. Binary genital dormitories exist seperated behind gated curfews in an attempt to delay the inevitable. This is the same building pre-semester and first week back. Can you guess which sex it is ascribed?
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Kuàilè, the sixth element
Even in a County of laughter and a happiness mantra, many young people told me they were depressed. The panda sat alone like this until some school boys approached. But it was I who received the balloon.
Kuàilè, the sixth element
Even in a County of laughter and a happiness mantra, many young people told me they were depressed. The panda sat alone like this until some school boys approached. But it was I who received the balloon.
Earth Children of China. Parental investments and privatised business opportunity. To see them play in the street is - like in England - a rare sight. The history of urban child's play continues to be eroded. Whereas previously in film and literature such activities were portrayed as wild - even during its renaissance period of artistic interest from the last 20 years - still carries a stigma. It is now already so sterilised that the very fact Art has shown an interest only highlights its lack of spontaneous opportunity. But one that still carries a romantic notion of mentalised freedom. The children in China are invested. We know this already. But only the best children know how to play this game and to play it well can't be taught, in fact it must be abused.
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...Below contains photos from my last day. The Dream is 'one' dream (Yī 一 for You!) a singular line that binds and boundaries all. But of course, in conversation, there were many dreams. Leaving, teaching, marrying, travelling, wealth and beauty... A dream is a cultivated thing, sometimes better unfulfilled, but always worthy of pursuit. If only to journey into unexpected transformations. These were from my last day...
-Photos from my humble Huawei phone, taken between April 2016 and November 2017
-Photos from my humble Huawei phone, taken between April 2016 and November 2017