After the serious outbreak of coronavirus, Changchun, a city in North-eastern China, has started to recover from the sorrow. There is no confirmed infection case at the current stage, so people no longer have to stay at home for self-quarantine. Thus, groups of young people, who are considered as the leader of the pop trend in North-eastern China, begin to go on the street to seek pleasure.
However, is it the true recovery? It is interesting how North-eastern China, or Dongbei, has developed from an agricultural and industrial district to the current stage. When the rural culture of this vast land meets with industrialization and modernization, a culture that is different from any other appeared in this region. After the nationwide spread of “Hong Kong-style” in the seventies, the aesthetic of Dong Bei People was largely effected and continue to evolve. That’s the formation of Dongbei pop culture.
The mood board mainly consists of four colors, red, blue, purple and black. The color tone of the photos indicates the dramatical comparison of the past and the present. Photos of people wearing surgical masks and protective suits in black and white form large contrast with the reddish and purplish lighting which suggests the popular trend. Images of industrial districts and vernacular houses also appear to indicate the past sorrow. The overall mood is distracting but also full of hope, corresponding with the theme of recovery.
– Consider the points of view of your subjects, and how they engage the spaces they are in, e.g. distance.
– Would you collect information for research material and footage through interviews, or secret footage?