We Are Here Just For You.

We Are Here Just For You, Chongqing. 2009 © Shen Wei

I walked pass this neon sign many times in Chongqing and am always so fascinated by it. The sign reads "We Are Here Just For You" in both Chinese and English. It is hugely located on the top of some residential buildings. It lights up at night beautifully, sometimes red, sometimes green, sometimes just white, with or without the frame. I don't know what this sign is for, perhaps an advertising for something, or a city slogan, I don't know... Whatever it's for, it reads good, a message that makes me feeling extra safe every time I walk by it. I love these images of the sign, now I just have to decide the red sign or the white sign.

Room with a View.

Room with a View, Chongqing. 2009 © Shen Wei

Chongqing is one of my favorite cities in China. Her stunning beauty, perfectly defused lighting, and the slightly muted human mood make Chongqing the most photogenic city I've ever been in China.

In my last trip to Chongqing, me and my friends stayed at a hotel by the magnificent Yangtze River. Expect, when everyone got a room with a river view, I have a room with no window. First of all, I was mad, until I see my room. Well, I have a view, too, sort of. In my windowless room, shaped like a crashing triangle, at one corner near the bed, a green piece of glass separates a small area from the rest of the room. Inside this little space, there is a fake palm tree planted in the rocks, a tiny tropical island makes up for people who willing to stay in the stuffy room. I especially found of this little paradise, when I lay on my bed, I can't help to turn my head every 30 seconds. It gets better at night, it is spooky! To perfect my exotic room, a "Coconut Breeze" air freshener was dedicated on my nightstand the next morning. Aloha!

The Changing Landscape.

June 2008. © Shen Wei

January 2009. © Shen Wei

I grew up by the infamous Suzhou Creek of Shanghai. The creek was very stinky then, with hundreds of boats going through everyday. One summer I discovered this huge slump by the creek, it was an amazing maze. I liked to ride my bicycle in and get lost, when I want to come out, I just follow the smell of the creek. Gradually, I was addicted to that smell. One day I rode my bicycle there, the slump was flattened, completely. Then, the boats were slowly disappearing. Then the smell is gone.

Lecture in M1NT.

My one-month trip in China ended with a private and lush lecture at M1NT, World's first shareholder's club. The club is posh and intimate, a bit over the top (just like the lecture invitation). The lecture was conducted in English, with 25 collectors and art lovers in present. The whole event can not be more cool, with The Bund location and spectacular view, the delicious cocktail and lamb chop. Of course, the lecture was very successful I thought, a lot of interaction with the audiences. Thanks Sven, Yun and Julia for preparing such a perfect event.

I am in Shanghai Airport right now, back to NYC in 15 hours. I have heard the cold weather is waiting for me a head.

Me doing whatever in China.

One of the benefits of traveling with my friend Baibai is that she constantly photographs me doing whatever, not that I am so narcissistic, I sometimes like to know how I look like in real life... you know, look at the mirror is quite not the same as look at a candid photo of yourself. So here are some photos of me doing whatever during our Chongqing-Wuhan trip.

Practicing Yoga in the hotel room.

Changing film while being observed.

Photographing what I can't remember in a tea house in Chongqing.

Me and Baibai eating (all the time) in Wuhan. Photo by 阿D.

A Workshop in Shanghai.

Last weekend I taught a workshop in Shanghai. The workshop is sponsored by Kunst.licht Shanghai. We choose only 10 photographers among numerous applications from all over China. The 3-day workshop was very inspirational to me. I also have received many joys of interacting and communicating with Chinese young photographers. Here are the work of all 1o photographers from the workshop. I wish I will have more opportunities to participate such wonderful events in China in the future.

© Pan Xiaochun 潘晓春

©Zhou Yang 周仰

© Zhao Xiaomeng 赵小萌

© Li Lefang 李乐方

© Yu Cong 于聪

© Shun Yanchu 孙彦初

© Shen Mujin 沈木槿

© Li Yuning 李宇宁

© Fei Tian 费天

© Chen Jian 程剑

Chongqing-Shanghai

Light of Chongqing - Watermelon of Shanghai.

The Almost Naked Press Check.

Match making.

Such a beautiful test strip.

Pretending I know something :-)

I apologize for the lack of updates recently. I had a couple of busy weeks. I traveled to Chongqing and Wuhan for 7 days (many stories to tell...stay tuned). When I come back to Shanghai, I discovered I still have a planet of things to be taken care of, some interviews, teaching a workshop, and very important, press check for my Almost Naked portfolio book.

The press check lasted for almost whole day, many hard decision has been made. Now all 218 books are packed and ready to ship. I am so excited and nervous, when I saw all of them together for the first time, I was so happy and curious, I did not know how to react to them. Here are some photos from the press check. I was told that I am one of the pickiest person they have ever met. Honesty, I thought I had not even shown my pickyness yet, they should see how I order my breakfast...haha...