Once the backbone of the republic with its heavy industry and energy sector, Northeast China has become one of the most decadent regions of China’s economic development as its industrial and economic structure has been transformed. Although I reside in Beijing now, Northeast China is my parents’ hometown. When I visit there occasionally, I feel that the cities there are developing very slowly, giving a sense of stagnation in time. This stagnation also affects the values and behaviors of the people who stay there - they do not compete for every second like people in other fast-growing regions constantly moving forward and suffering from loss and gain.

In this macro context, I chose a micro perspective that is close to human emotions and more resonant, depicting the stories of ordinary people taken from reality, hoping that this will be a medium to observe and reflect on the environment in which these people live.

medium: oil pastels on canvas

size: 1800×900mm