look inside

Coastline (signed)

by Xiao Zhang

Photographs: Xiao Zhang

Publisher: Jiazazhi press

192 pages

Pictures: 118 color pictures

Year: 2014

Comments: 21,5 x 28 x 2,2 mm, 16 folding pages, clothbound hardcover, all numbered, limited edition: 600

Zhang Xiao was born in 1981 in Yantai, Shandong province. He now lives in Chengdu, Sichuan province. He won Houdengke Documentary Photography Award (China) in 2009, won Three Shadows Photography Award (China) in 2010, won The Photography Talent Award (France) in 2010, won MIO Photo Award (Japan) 2011, won The Prix HSBC pour la photographie (France) 2011.

Zhang Xiao started his journey from 2009-2013 along the coastline of China. China has long coastline which from the mouth of Yalu river in Liaoning province in the northern to the mouth of Beilun river in Guangxi province in the southern. Totally, it is continuous eighteen thousands kilometers. There are great changes every day in China since it began opening up 30 years ago. The cities are like big construction sites speeding their construction pace to catch up with the rest of the world. All of this appears particularly outstanding in China's coastal areas. A multitude of countrymen leave their native place to go there. Urbanization drive continually accelerate growth while people’s spiritual life stay.

In China, every year hundreds of millions of people find work in other places. During the Spring Festival, hundreds of millions of people return home during a very short time, so the whole family can be reunited. They come from everywhere, North to South, East to West. People often lose their way during this process, losing the feeling of a real home. Lacking a sense of belonging, perhaps this is a symptom of being Chinese during this time.

More books by Xiao Zhang