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I am writing this on a sunny day, from the bright and spacious office overlooking downtown Shanghai, and then, looking at the faces and landscapes of the earthquake-stricken area that I depict in the pictures, I cannot help but weep.
After the 2008, May 12 earthquake that struck Wenchuan and adjacent places, I have been coming regularly to the devastated areas, and, through the few things I could do, I lived much too many feelings and experiences...
Some people often appear in my lens: the survivors Liu Xiaoqing and Shang Zhonghong; the soldiers Liu Hanlin and Langazziga; the one-year volunteer Liu Meng or the worker Wang Genfu whom are all staying there for the post-disaster reconstruction... ... Looking at you, my friends, moves me, makes me ponder, and a "dialogue of souls" develops among us. Presently, mountains separate us, but I feel it: you are so close that I can hear your breathing.
In one night, the life of millions of people has been radically changed - including mine and yours. Had this disaster not occurred, I think we would have been living our own quiet life, like two parallel tracks that would've never met. And now, somehow, we are so close that I can hear your breathing… Earth and mountains shake, feeble breathings under the ruins affect the whole country and even the heart of the world. A disaster makes strangers come together; fate and bloodlines unite them, we are all waiting for signs of breathing from under the ruins. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, we will not spare our efforts, no matter where you are, I have to find you. Blood transfusion works miracles, and life becomes the ultimate meaning. This is a battle between life and time, this is the struggle between man and nature - this is the moment when breathing and fate unite all of us together. At this moment, no distance between us; at this moment, we breathe together, and our lives are united into one; at this moment, there is nothing else other than listening to the survivors: even the slightest, the weakest breathing makes us hope and rejoice. Through bloodied hands we carve the green channel of your life - let me hear your breathing -, and we pray to Life so that it may work miracles.
In my experience, shooting had never been so painful, sometimes I could not help but burst into tears, overwhelmed by sadness and feelings, moved by pains too strong to be absorbed. Photography is about recording stories and time, so I have always regarded photography as a diary. Looking at you, I could use my camera to record it all – the real things that you were truly doing in the real time…
Over time, traveling in the affected areas, I was surprised to find that despite such a big disaster and misfortune, after the initial earthquake panic and grief, after a period of confusion and despair, people started in their own ways to commence a new life. No matter what happens, life will continue.
More than bloody and cruel scenes, more than the silent ruins, I was concerned about you – you who survived the disaster. I recorded how you were standing among the ruins, I recorded your faces, your smile offered to life, your determination, your vitality when rebuilding your homes, and from this I could feel again life’s power. In your footsteps, I recorded the stages of “disaster”, “relief”, ‘sacrifice” and “hope.” Through my lens, I slowly felt and experienced such a change. This is a process of resurrection of life and heart, as is the dawn of the rising sun. We became so close that I can almost hear your breathing.
During the 2009 Qing Ming Festival, I again set foot on this piece of land, thinking that such a return would result in new tears and sentiments of suffering. But I encountered green fields in full bloom, production and construction sites in full swing, and new houses being built. I met with the villagers talking about the future and with their children's smiling faces, I know that, under the sun, you and I were ushered into the spring. We were so close that I could almost hear your breathing. And suddenly I felt that I had heard and felt more than just your breathing, I had heard the earth breathing, the rivers breathing, the mountains, breathing, vibrant and powerful, all giving me evidences of life. The land of Sichuan, once beautiful but devastated, recovers her beautiful face, allowing me once more to feel the power of life.
You - the people I saw though my lenses, what impressed me most has been has been how ordinary, how real you were… I now firmly believe that the ordinary life hides wonders, and these wonders have been naturally revealed through you, they have been flowing from you like the nature's seasons, like sun, rain and snow.
Thanks to you, I found that people have two hands, one for helping themselves, one for helping others; thanks to you, I witnessed and learned fortitude, optimism and gratitude; thanks to you, I felt what love is and how love can be extended around; thanks to you, I learned and discovered that where is love there is a home! You overwhelmed me with the essence of life and peace, so much so that, now on, we are close to the extent that I can hear your breathing.
I am well aware that, confronted with such an event, my vision is still far too limited. Over time, this earthquake will also provide me with new lessons, but what you gave to me I would like already to share it with everybody: the warmth of human nature and the real value of life.
The lives of those who passed away continue and even become more beautiful through our existence and remembrance, they will never leave us throughout time and space. We can hear them breathing, for they live in our hearts. For those who have gone away and for those who miss them, I hope that these pictures testify to the value of life and to the respect we owe her.
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Liang Zhun will give a conference and exhibit her photos about her experience as a volunteer in the area on Saturday May 16, 4pm at Sunbow Art Gallery, 3d floor, Building 0, 50 Moganshan Road, Shanghai
Contact apleinesmains(at)erenlai.com for more info
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