I came to Shenzhen in November 2005. In 2006, I started a photography project and named it The New Chinese. It is a 10-year long project and I am in my 9th year now. Shenzhen, once a fishing village, has turned out to be one of the biggest cities in China. As the experimental ground for China’s reformation, Shenzhen is always the frontier of new cultures and new practices, as well as the most important city in the history of modern China’s urbanization. People from different parts of China have gathered in this new city and started their own adventure. In order to pursue their “Shenzhen dream”, they moved to Shenzhen from other cities, small towns and rural areas. The migrants are all in a new environment and experiencing brand new lives. No matter whether they are aware or not, they were involved in the urbanization process, while the city is growing rapidly.
People from different social classes usually have their own lifestyles and it’s very unlikely for them to participate in a same party. I found it interesting that these people gather together in social events and at fashionable parties so I wandered through various events to capture the different faces, disclosing what it means to be a Shenzhen citizen in the 21st century. In these parties, I met people with different professions, different social background, and different personalities. I encountered government officers, successful entrepreneurs, artists, workers, waitress, white collar workers, rich kids and sometimes even some Fengshui masters.
At one same event, different people play different roles: workers are cleaning the place, the band is performing, officers are giving speeches. You can spot some bored employees, some partygoers enjoying their drinks, eagerly chatting while some choose to play it cool and others are just watching. I am excited that the citizens’ faces are so true to life yet so different from one another.
China is changing rapidly and so are Chinese citizens. In the process of urbanization, how do Chinese citizens keep up with trends? Through these events and parties, I found a way to solve this question. It may take as long as twenty years to disclose the answer but in the meantime I am resolved to use my camera to record the faces of Chinese citizens in this ever-changing era. Faces that may give us a glimpse of the future of the country.
Li Zhengde
Lianzhou Foto 2016
November 19 to December 9 2016
Lianzhou, Guangdong
China
