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Maguanguan, a remodeling, age 54, poses for a portrait in Beijing. Response to 'What does China mean to you?': 'China is our home. The family spring from which I started my life journey.' Response to 'What is your role in China's future?': 'A Chinese citizen.' -
Zhangzuohaonan, a student, age 17, poses for a portrait in Nanjing. Response to 'What does China mean to you?': 'A big family.' Response to 'What is your role in China's future?': 'Common.' -
Meimei, a student, age 21, poses for a portrait in Beijing. Response to 'What does China mean to you?': 'Country is home, the family demonstrates the unity and harmony of the Chinese sons and daughters.' Response to 'What is your role in China's future?': 'A performing artist who demonstrates Chinese culture to friends from around the world.' -
Taidazhang, a retired, age 73, poses for a portrait in Nanjing. Response to 'What does China mean to you?': 'China is better and better.' Response to 'What is your role in China's future? or What is China's role in the future?': '[no answer]' -
Zhangzhengya, a independent clothing seller, age 24, poses for a portrait in Nanjing. Response to 'What does China mean to you?': 'To me the word China is like a mother. It provides for you. Doesn't ask you to give anything back. We are proud to have a "mother" like this. Self-pride.' Response to 'What is your role in China's future?': 'We should believe that we will grasp our role in the future. Work hard. Generously think of ways to support our country.' -
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Zhangzhenhua, no occupation given, age 28, poses for a portrait in Badaling. Response to 'What does China mean to you?': 'Home country.' Response to 'What is your role in China's future? or What is China's role in the future?': 'Ordinary contribution.' [responses copied from previous questionnaire]
View the whole project at http://www.we-chinese.com/
We Chinese
We Chinese grew out of a curiosity to find out what Chinese people think about their country and their future. In 2010, I traveled throughout major urban centers in eastern China stopping people on the street to ask the same two questions about their country and their future. The respondents filled out a one-page typewritten questionnaire that included these two questions and some basic information including name, age, and occupation.
The questions were interpreted variously, and the responses range from prosaic to poetic, from rote to inspired, and from unemotional to patriotic. While it’s difficult to draw conclusions about the entire population, the people photographed here expressed a sincere love of country and optimism about the country’s future development and peaceful position in the world. I started the project as a way to respond to friends’, family’s, and strangers’ questions about the global direction of China and their stereotypes of the people. “Should we be scared of China?” or “Where is China headed?” or vague assertions about the collective character of billions of individuals that make up the country.
The project also comes from suspicions of my own methods in documentary work. My work imposes visual and written narratives on situations and cultures. By photographing anyone willing to be a part of the project, using the same set up for the portraits, and asking the same questions of all the subjects, I hoped a narrative about China and its people would emerge naturally.
View the whole project at http://www.we-chinese.com