Beijing Nostalgia

I moved to Canada from Beijing when I was nine. Coming back here again in my twenties has been an interesting experience. Maybe it happens to all at this age, but I've been yearning for a simpler time. China has been invaded by foreign powers throughout history, yet it always managed to keep its artistic identity - until recent years. With the advent of "neo-capitalism" masquerading as "neo-communism", China as a whole has become lost. Much of the new generation is torn between traditional values (although archaic), and the western philosophy of "live fast, live hard". Instinctively, the human mind prefers the tempestuous option. But, as I walk along the old alleys and parks with my camera, I get the feeling that what this place needs is an amalgamation of both - a mix of the in-your-face aesthetics of the modern era and the subtle minimalism of the old. I present these photos as my thesis for this new aesthetic direction.