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I did nothing other than to tell them to smile

"Hot soup on the table, cotton clothes, a television set that never turns off." These are the things that make up a traditional Chinese family.

 

My father was the youngest of three brothers, and my mother was the youngest of five children and the only daughter among them. The influence of collectivism brought conventions and habits into their lives: "Don't be different from others." In contrast, I was born in 1994, when the Chinese government was promoting the "one child" policy, and as is the case for many families, I am an only child. Throughout my upbringing, my parents and I faced a new kind of intimacy together, without any prior experience to refer to. We tried to understand each other and become friends.But unlike immigrant families, I left, and they remained in their hometown.

 

When I took photographs, my father would ask, "There's nothing here, what are you shooting?" My mother would scold him, "What do you know? This is art.”

 

This conversation was interesting.Did they really understand what their daughter, who was studying in art school, was doing every day?

 

These photos were taken on their wedding anniversary. I first started taking them with the concept of playing pranks and role-playing the drama. When they refused to take these strange photos, I persuaded them by saying, "It's a wedding photo.” They had never taken wedding photos in the past, so they found my words to be convincing. They thought, "Maybe this is art.”

 

I originally hoped to reconcile our relationship and understand each other better through this project. During the shooting process, however, a kind of intimate yet awkward relationship arose between us. Gradually, we became accustomed to this mode of photography, and it no longer felt strange, nor did we need to explain too much. I now believe that in an intimate relationship, it is better not to overemphasize mutual understanding. Simply watching what one another are doing is the best kind of relationship.

「テーブルの上の温かいスープ、綿の服、永遠に閉じないテレビ」。

 

私の両親はこのような伝統的な中国の家庭で生まれ育ち、このように暮らしていた。父は3人兄弟の末っ子で、母は5人兄弟の末っ子で一人娘であった。一方、中国政府が「一人っ子政策」を推進していた1994年に私が生まれたが、両親は集団主義の時代を経て、彼らの生活にはその時代の習慣が持ち込まれていた。「人と違うことをしてはいけません」と私はよく言われた。

しかし、両親は急激な集団主義という政策の影響で、娘である私に「他人と少しだけ違いでも、世間一般の人の中で、"優秀な人"になれること」を期待されていた。彼らは可能な限り若者である私と交流し、友達になれるように試した。けれども私が彼らのコントロールできない範囲内に離れないことに警戒されている。

しかしながら、私が両親の毎日記念写真を撮っていたら、笑ってだけを言った。

"従うと従われる関係"

"リバースコントロール関係"

私だけでなく、多くの家族がこの親密さの変化に直面している。親密関係の中で、新たな親密で気まずく支配的な関係が形成していく。これまでの家族関係の事例が参考になるようなことはなく、この親密な関係を直視して、相手のことを更に知りたいと求めている。

 

桌上的热汤,棉衣,永远不关的电视。

我的父母就是在这样一个传统的中国家庭中出生和长大,以这种方式生活。 我爸爸是三兄弟中最小的儿子,我母亲是五兄弟中最小的女儿。 我出生于1994年,中国政府进一步提倡“独生子女”政策。但是父母经过了集体主义时代,对他们的产生了一些约定成俗的习惯。他们经常告诉我:“不要跟别人不一样。”

然而,在受到绝对的集体主义政策影响下,他们也希望他们的女儿,可以与别人有一点不同,但是依旧在标准答案中做 一个"优秀的人"。 他们尽可能地与我这个年轻人交流,试图和我成为朋友。但他们也警惕地把我控制在一个不脱离他们控制的范围内。

事实上,当我拍摄父母每日的纪念照片时,我是跟他们说:“笑一下”。

"服从和被服从的关系"。"逆向控制关系"。

不只是我自己,许多家庭都面临着这种亲密关系的变化。 一种新型的亲密但尴尬又包含控制的关系正在形成。在没有以前的任何家庭关系案例可以参考的情况下,我希望可以直面这种亲密关系,并更多地了解对方。

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