After a week of rain, this morning began with tentative rays of sun and by 10 a.m., the sky was bright, the temperature had climbed to about 90 F (32 C), and the humidity had stabilized around 80%. I decided to take the objects out for a day in the park because, while housebound during the storms, I realized I had few group portraits. So, after stuffing my backpack, I went to the park.

I began posing the objects on benches or among flowers. Folks on their way to work would stop and watch, and even those rushing past would pause in their conversations to glance my way. Usually, all this attention makes me self-conscious and defensive. (“Yes, I’m taking pictures of garbage, but it’s art!”) However, today all this fresh sunshine bubbled up and I started talking about the project. Better yet, I stumbled onto a blurb that folks understood.

“Shenzhen is a very modern and beautiful city. However, to get through the day, we depend upon these ordinary and often ratty objects. I want to make a comparison between the beautiful city and the worn-out objects.”

Now, why the joy at being understood? One would think that an anthropologist with theoretical ambitions would be inured to being misunderstood. In January this year, I went home, carrying several pieces of digital art. I was stopped at the border, the tubes were opened, and the pictures were examined. One of the guards sniffed, “Abstract art.” The other guard grunted agreement and then waved me through. I later understood that they were making sure I wasn’t trying to smuggle products through without paying tax. Clearly, they understood the limited market for art. But I’m not doing abstract art. Folks actually get it!

The other reason today brought such pleasure was that this explanation actually encouraged a few people to pose with the objects. Also, tomorrow I have been invited to photograph a yangge (a dance made popular at Yan’an) club, practicing their steps. Who knows, the objects may actually get to make house calls.

To see the park, please go to: http://pics.livejournal.com/maryannodonnell/gallery/000093f8

shenzhen