Fine Lines

For my latest project I photographed aspiring, migrant, working-class inhabitants of Huangpu, a neighborhood in Shanghai. I documented their daily lives in their community, their living conditions and domestic problems. To provide a different perspective, I closely followed and photographed Jennifer, a 23-year-old middle-class migrant girl, both in Shanghai and in her hometown, Changzhou, where her family lives. Jennifer’s is a story of prosperity, of a girl who migrated to Shanghai in search of work and a better quality of life and succeeded. On the other hand, migrants living in Huangpu are still struggling to improve their living conditions. In both stories, the community and family around these characters play a key role in allowing them to lead a good life and the photographs present an intimate and optimistic view of their world.

A rather unusual scene, a dentist at work seen from the main street behind a window. The Chinese attitude to private and public activities is still somewhat far from the western perception. The layers, of truth, conviction, overt and hidden behaviour intertwine and astonish.

A child pacing forward, his future unknown, suspended on the terrace of time.

74 years old, retired, Mr. Zhao has been living in Shanghai for 60 years. He migrated from Ningbo in the Zhejiang province. He is looking forward to the 200000RMB he will receive as compensation from the government once he is asked to move out and his house is demolished.

Wires splaying, creeping up walls, engulfing space, life in stretched lines.

An entry barred, a moment seized.

Jennifer in her bedroom.

Woman, seen through bars

In these cramped living conditions children cannot find much space to play. Playgrounds are limited to public parks.

A family home uncovered. Living conditions are poor, and the promiscuity produces a tired mess. 24 families at courtyard number 62. 12 upstairs and 12 downstairs, each has only one small room.

Jennifer eating rice porridge for breakfast on the red table with her sister in law, nephew and mother in the background. The Chinese eat rice for every meal.

Artistic community, Elephant and Castle