Cultural Practices

Over 100 years ago, under the guidance and enlightenment of Ch'en Tu-hsiu and his journal “La Jeunesse (New Youth)”, the young people of that era shouted for a better future for their state. Everything they did in Peking (now known as Beijing) deeply influenced the destiny of China. Today, more than a century later, the echoes of their call-to-arms still linger on, while enlightenment remains an unfinished task. Peking has transformed into Beijing, and the youth of China no longer care about the burdensome topics of the past. As a member of this generation, at the age of 30, I, like most others, am following the beaten path of life, but I am tortured by increasing self-doubt. The prosperous Beijing resembles vast steel woods, no longer like the old image of Peking. Faint lights flicker in the distance, and fog shrouds the road ahead. Like the whole young generation, I am lost, but perhaps what we cannot find is not a road, but ourselves. With unanswered questions, I have connected with 99 peers through social media, entering their homes and observing their lives through the lens of my camera. I believe that the answers lie there. I see the surface "perfection" they display, their contentment with stable salaries, their anticipation for the unknowns in life, and their desire for freedom and independence - it seems like they live without constraints. But at the same time, the same "wandering" as me is exposed. Strong cultural conflicts bring about contradictory thoughts and overchoice. They ward off evil spirits with red underwear following traditional Chinese cultural customs, yet also wear Christmas socks to experience a different kind of warmth. The diverse values and valuations bring about contradictory behaviors. They attempt to choose their romantic partners completely free but dare not show off. They are obsessed with playing Mahjong but are reluctant to play it with older people. The double standards bring about hidden crises, either of which make them lost between their selves and society. "Who am I? Where do I come from? Where am I going?" These eternal questions of philosophy and religion constantly concern the young generations of all ages. We are burdened with high hopes in this era, even though we may not bear the weight of it. Each face in this series of photographs attempts to capture the inner landscape of today's Chinese youth, and to portray the interweaving of reality and dreams, as well as confusion and struggles in life.