China's old canal towns are endlessly fascinating and
photographer Deke Erh has sifted through his archives of past
decades to present black-and-white visions of tranquillity.
A nostalgic look at China's charming canal towns, their waters
swept by willows and crossed by ancient bridges, is presented by
photographer Deke Erh who captures a bygone life of serenity.
"Through this 'affectionate glance' at the canal towns, the
people and their living style, I hope viewers will think again
about our tradition," says Erh.
For decades, photographer
Deke Erh has been capturing the bygone life of serenity through
these black-andwhite photos of water towns in the regions south of
the Yangtze River. (photo: from Shanghai Daily)
His exhibit "Chinese Style," featuring 100 black-and-white
photos of water towns in the regions south of the Yangtze River, is
underway at his gallery on Taikang Road through February.
The old people chatting in a tea house, a family busy in a bean
curd workshop, the man reading in a bell tower are all faithfully
recorded.
The quiet towns of narrow alleys and crumbling walls are both
bypassed by progress and catching up with the times. Erh has been
training his lens on these towns for decades to preserve their
history and culture.
"Many call me a nostalgia person, because I am always capturing
those things that fade away from modern sight," Erh says. "Perhaps
in my blood I am, as history is not written in a day. There are too
many moments that need to be recorded, whether in the past or at
present."
Noted for photographing old houses in Shanghai, today Erh often
takes his camera to go much "deeper" and "further." He travels to
remote spots in China and is tracing the Silk Road to Europe.
"These canals towns offer me a temporary shelter to hide away
from the hustle and bustle of Shanghai," he says. "I feel myself
immediately soothed when walking in these alleys and seeing those
pleased faces. There is a kind of unspoken charisma that draws me
there time after time."
Date: February 1-28, 10am-4pm
Venue: Deke Erh Art Center, Bldg 2, 210 Taikang
Rd
Tel: 8621-6415-0675
(Shanghai Daily February 1, 2008)
