Over the past 30 years, China has moved from an agricultural, traditional social structure to one that is urban and modern. Of course, this new model is only in its first phase. The challenges are piling up: demography, urbanization, unbalanced development across different regions, the modernization of state-owned companies, the status of immigrant workers and, above all, the environment, a problem that has now become critical. The Chinese will have to pay a heavy price to repair the damage they’ve done. Luckily, as opposed to other countries faced with recurring crises, the Chinese economy has been steadily rising, which suggests that it will remain a global superpower.
This development has led to a material improvement, all while making Chinese citizens more demanding, especially in terms of lifestyle. I think that the Chinese are realizing that a slower tempo and calmer mind are more suited to the human condition.
Finally, for the past decade, Internet culture has become highly popular. Any event likely to have a social impact is now limited to its ability to spread online. Closely linked to the web, photography has become one of the main tools of communication to investigate, follow and participate in Chinese public and political life. With the internet, we have a platform that helps us expose problems, helping both policymakers and the public come up with solutions.
Of course, the photographer’s powers are limited. Some problems have resulted from a number of factors, and their solution will require the combined efforts of everyone in China.
BOOK
China Now
Direction : Yann Layma
360 x 250 mm
192 pages
Punlisher: La Martinière
09 octobre 2014
ISBN 9782732448824
49 €
