China I - What the Light Conceals

Between December 2025 and January 2026, I had the opportunity to visit several cities in southern and southwestern China, officially the People’s Republic of China (中华人民共和国, Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó). My journey took me through the provinces of Guǎngdōng (广东), Guǎngxī (广西) and Sìchuān (四川), as well as the municipality of Chóngqìng (重庆). These photographs were taken in some of the many public markets between Guǎngzhōu (广州), also known in the West as Canton, and Guìlín (桂林). They offer a small glimpse into the atmosphere of these places, where meat, fruit and vegetables are sold every day to local residents. What interested me most was the combination of light, colours, gestures and faces. These markets feel very different from those we are used to seeing in Western cities, both visually and culturally. They are lively places, shaped by the people who work in them and visit them every day. -------- 2025年12月至2026年1月，我有机会走访中国南部和西南部的几座城市，旅程经过广东、广西、四川和重庆。 这些照片拍摄于广州至桂林一带的几处公共市场。它们记录了这些地方日常生活的一些片段。在这里，肉类、水果和蔬菜每天被运到市场，出售给当地居民。 最吸引我的是这里的光线、色彩、动作和面孔。无论从视觉还是文化角度来看，这些市场都与我所熟悉的西方城市环境很不一样。它们充满活力，而这种活力来自每天在这里工作、购物和生活的人们。 感谢所有出现在照片中的人，无论他们是否知道自己被拍摄。也特别感谢那些友善地接纳我，并允许我拍摄这些画面的人。 我希望这组照片能够传达我在这些地方感受到的好奇、惊喜，以及探索陌生环境时的体验。