Shanghai Panic

Hello from Shanghai! 

It was so unexpected for me to get panic when I tried to across the People Square in downtown Shanghai. I was standing there alone, couldn’t even move, absolutely lost any sense of direction. For those who try to avoid Time Square sometimes, just imagine yourself standing among maybe 10 times more amount of moving people in one place. Shanghai has been changed so much in the past 10 to 15 years that I can barely keep up with all the streets and subway routs. Eight years ago when I first left the city, there was one subway line, but now there are 13 lines plus 3 work-in-progress. The hardware of the city is just fantastic. I really fall in love with the city again. I love how I am getting a little bit culture shock in my hometown, how often can you have that kind of feeling. I guess I need to come back more.

I have talked about how every photographer went to Shanghai are obsessed about the buildings, that’s because it is simply too fascinating to be missed. I could not keep my eyes away from the cityscape every time I drove on the high way. I don’t know how to describe it, I have never seen so many skyscrapers in one place, it has been rainy and fog, the view is absolutely dreamy.

I am writing this on the plane to Guiyang, a small city in southern China where the life-style is more close to average Chinese living. This is so far a very fascinating trip and I think it certainly will keep that way. I will get back to you soon.

Carlo Van de Roer on 20x200

© Carlo Van de Roer

But if you are reading this post by now and absolutely love this image (just like me), you are already too late, it was sold out on 20x200 in the blink of an eye. That's another reason I should check my email even more often. I was hugely disappointed that I missed this fabulous photo. I have been a fan of Carlo Van de Roer's work, I hope Jen Bekman will put out another image of Carlo soon.

The First Lady.

© Michel Comte

This provocative photograph of the French first lady Carla Bruni was sold to a Chinese collector for $91,000 from Christie's a few days ago.  The photograph was shot by Michel Comte in 1993 when Bruni was a supermodel.  Well done, Mr. President Sarkozy.  And I think PETA should ditch Holly for this.

Name this video.

Since the success of my last "Name this video". I have been seeking another great video that worth common on. Sometimes the unintentional arty videos are the most ironic, like this one, so called Talent Selects. Basically the young talents of America just have to be looking hot and faking smile. I am sure this casting video is far more interesting than the actual sitcom they are in. Now all it needs is a title, then it can be sent straight to the nearest hotel lobby.

ICON Auction

© Christian Witkin.  Dominique S., #10, 2006

Tomorrow I will go check out the ICON ICP benefit auction.  There will be a live auction and a silent auction, you can also bit online.  There are quite a few very memorable images that I love, start with a reasonable $250 - $500.  The auction is at Phillips de Pury & Company, 450 West 15th Street, NYC. 

Obama on Baidu?!

Just a few minutes ago, when I logged on the largest Chinese search engine Baidu.com for my daily feed of China news, I was rather shocked to see an Obama cartoon figure on it, hold a fishing net over the logo of the Chinese character 百度(Baidu), I wonder what he is fishing for? 

Just read this article on NYtimes about Baidu.

China !

©Liyu + Liubo

I am feeling home sick since I have not been back to China for a while, but I am going home in two weeks.  I am so extremely excited!  I spent a few weeks to plan out my trip in China, will stay half the time in hometown Shanghai, and then trying to squeeze 4 destinations into another tight 15 days.  So if you are in Beijing北京, Hangzhou杭州, Suzhou苏州, Guiyang贵阳 and of course Shanghai上海, and would like to meet or sit for a portrait, please email me.  

For the last few year, I had an interesting way to learn about the changing of China through photography.  Many western photographers had gone to China, document the booming land with a foreign perspective.  I can't help to notice that only very few Chinese photographers have chosen to point their lens to the landscapes of China, most of them are more interested in the people, life-style and politics.  This is also my first time back home as a photographer, I will give a lecture/workshop in universities and have small gatherings with other artists in China.  

Last night I read a shocking news of the rice shortage in China, no joke, that has never happened, even when we don't have enough pork, I still had rice.  I guess time has really changed.