Umbrellas and bridges
(Nanxun: bridges over the canal)
This is just one of the many bridges over the canals in Nanxun – it felt a little Venetian with the crumbling buildings, boats and the lapping water. What I liked about this place was that it feels ancient. Most of what I experience everyday here is heavily manufactured and newly finished with little character. In some areas, nothing has had time to develop a patina or to get rusty or covered with leaves. It’s almost as if Nanxun has retained some integrity with a rich past, whereas Suzhou is being spoiled with a rich present and future.
Atop the bridge, you can see two ladies with an umbrella. Many women in China carry umbrellas with them all the time as they are useful when it’s raining and when the sun feels too hot. At least, that’s what I thought, but several people have assured me that many young women prefer the shade as it will keep their skin paler which is more fashionable (and apparently Chinese men love it). Like many western women baking themselves on a beach, sunbed or simply slapping a tan on, these women want to preserve their colour too, albeit opposite to the common western ideal. In the supermarkets instead of tans, there’s whitening scrubs or creams to increase pallor. All the ads for spas, beauty products or clothes have been blanched with photoshop.
It’s bizarre to discover that people really are the same wherever you are, but different. Young women will always try new tricks to become more desirable, even if the process seems crazy (like scrubbing your colour away or lying in a box waiting for your skin to burn and go brown).
this is a beautiful picture. i would paint it if i were there.
the most beautiful part is reflction of the houses on water, and the bridge arch. of course the two ladies with unbrella make it more poetic.
Wow, what a stunning photo. It is so lovely to see some of the old China that is sadly being swept away.
Great picture!