In the shadow of the glass and steel skyscrapers that define the world’s most futuristic skyline, a beating heart of ancient stories survives. “Old Shanghai” is a deep visual investigation carried out among the narrow alleys, the so-called lilong, where life still flows at a rhythm that seems to ignore the frenzy of modernity. Through my lens, I documented the resilient soul of the "old" metropolis, crystallizing in each shot the intimacy of a domestic everyday life that spills out into the streets. I wanted to tell of the silent resistance of a neighborhood fighting not to be swallowed by progress, turning every shot into an act of preserving historical and human memory.
The Aesthetics of Contrast: Wood and Concrete: The photographic research focuses on the visual dialogue between the low Shikumen-style houses and the concrete giants looming in the background. I worked on the warm lights filtering through hanging laundry and tangled electrical wires, creating a visual texture that speaks of layering and complexity. Every image seeks to convey the texture of the old walls and the decadent charm of an architecture that bears the marks of time, highlighting the beauty of a Shanghai that is disappearing under the blows of urban renewal.
The Reportage of Intimacy: Life in the Street: In this story, the camera discreetly infiltrates the simplest gestures: the smoke of a meal cooked outdoors, children playing in the alleys, the elderly resting on their doorsteps. This is not merely travel photography, but an anthropological document on community and the sharing of space. Every photograph bears witness to the vibrant humanity that inhabits these places, celebrating a neighborhood sociability where the boundary between public and private dissolves into a collective embrace of traditions and habits.
The Power of the Single Shot: Crystallizing a Changing World: By entrusting the narrative solely to still photography, I wanted to freeze time before the landscape changes forever. Without the aid of video or sound, every image compels the observer to "sense" the smell of spices and the muffled sound of a life that resists global standardization. The purity of the photographic language allows the instant to be isolated, turning the reportage into a visual testament of a unique urban culture, suspended between a glorious colonial past and an uncertain tomorrow.
Creating “Old Shanghai” meant confronting the speed of change and the value of roots. This photographic project stems from the need to offer an honest testimony to the beauty of persistence. My commitment was to place technique at the service of a visceral story, celebrating not only the aesthetic charm of the old neighborhoods, but above all the people: the inhabitant of Shanghai who, through their presence and their rituals, continues to give a heart and a face to one of the most dynamic and contradictory cities on the planet.
