Probably in a subconscious wave of homesickness, my mother sent me some interesting photos that perfectly capture a unique aspect of the Chinese culture.
French photographer Alain Delorme spent a couple of his residencies in Shanghai documenting the towers of goods couriered around the city by migrant pedal-pushers. The result is a series of images entitled ‘Totems.’
They’re bright and flat (obviously there was some post-processing done), almost graphic. Yet they remain wonderfully journalistic, a perfect observation on what often gets lost in a country with the highest population in the world. I’ve always admired these hardworking men (sometimes women) hauling heavy loads of the most random objects – my favorite being live chickens. Nothing is quite apropos of China today than piles of product being tugged around on simple tricycles.
All images © Alain Delorme
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
