Zhu Lanqing
In 1991 born in Dongshan Island, Fujian Province, China, lives and works in Xiamen now. She graduated from the Department of Photojournalism at Renmin University of China and then moved to Taiwan to study at the Institute of Applied Arts in Fujen Catholic University. Her work, most related to the home and place, have been published in many magazines and shown at different international art festivals. She is interested in the possibilities of the presentation of photography, especially handmade book. Her first book was selected in the list of PHOTOEYE's Best Books of 2012. Her second book A Journey in Reverse Direction won the Three Shadows Photography Award 2014 and Jimei X Arles Discovery Award 2015. She also won the Barcelona International Photography Award 2015 and Photo Boite "30 UNDER 30" in 2016.
A Journey In Reverse Direction：Dongshan Island 2013 - 2015
Handmade Book
2015
These Photo was taken in my hometown Dongshan Island, an island located in the south of Zhangzhou, Fujian Province.
Inevitable urban development gives people amnesia. They often forget what existed here before. I can only follow its pace, with my camera to "fight" with these changes in my hometown. My hometown has influenced me and shaped me since I was born. At the beginning of this book, I was dressed in a clothes from grandparents which is found in my grandmother's room. The effect seems to be a mutual process between my hometown and myself. What I have seen is what it wish I could see. Shooting hometown seems like a journey in reverse direction, leading me to the vague memories in dark and the bottom of my heart.
In my work, I use BACHIMEN(the bridge to Dongshan Island) , home, Food, Land, God, sea as the clue to reconstruct my hometown and put these fragments that I collected from my hometown into a book which can be read or showed. In this form, these spaces, people and objects can condense on the paper. Through the covering and unfolding these pages, it starts to reveal the meaning of my hometown to me.This handmade book represents a guide book of my hometown. It's a section of all our hometowns which drifting away in the urban developing. It will give us a chance to stop and touch our hometown ,reflect on what is the meaning of home at the same time.
A Self-portrait
In the beginning of this handmade book, I was wearing a piece of old wedding clothes which is made by my great-grandmother and her sister.
Chapter 1 BACHIMEN
Bachimen is an old ferry between Dongshan island and the mainland. It was the only way
people left the island or came back to the island in the past.Nowadays,when the car comes to Bachimen , you will know you're home.
Chapter 2 Family
Family , is my most intimate and direct connection with my hometown. I want to know my family members's living condition and the normal life in the hometown.
Chapter 3 Food , Land and Gods
Food grows on land , and people use food to worship the gods , pray to the gods to bless the land.Food,land and gods like a circle. Depending on it , people in the hometown continue their traditional life.
Chapter 4 The Sea
The sea surrounds the island, and the sea also isolate the island. People are relying on, challenging, and reshaping the sea. The symbol and the significance of the sea in people's life are also constantly changing.
Artist: Zhu Lanqing