iSpeakChina by Adrian Fisk
  • Alex li - 22 yrs Student international economic trading Guangdong ProvinceAlex li - 22 yrs Student international economic trading Guangdong Province
  • hoana Pan - 21 Yrs Student international economic trading Guangdong Province 'I hate the weather in china'.hoana Pan - 21 Yrs Student international economic trading Guangdong Province 'I hate the weather in china'.
  • Annie Ho Yinni - 24 Yrs Student of business english Guangdong Province 'The world is awakening to traditional Chinese medicine but China is not'.Annie Ho Yinni - 24 Yrs Student of business english Guangdong Province 'The world is awakening to traditional Chinese medicine but China is not'.
  • Ray Chuang - 20 Yrs Student of economic trading Guangdong Province 'I want to associate with people from different cultures'.Ray Chuang - 20 Yrs Student of economic trading Guangdong Province 'I want to associate with people from different cultures'.
  • Xin Hong Li - 30 Yrs Migrant Factory worker (25 hrs train journey from home) Guangdong Province 'Even if I am offered a house of gold or silver, I still want to return to my poor home'.Xin Hong Li - 30 Yrs Migrant Factory worker (25 hrs train journey from home) Guangdong Province 'Even if I am offered a house of gold or silver, I still want to return to my poor home'.
  • Chan Jiang Yong - 22 Yrs Product designer Guangdong Province 'The more difficulties I encounter the harder I try'.Chan Jiang Yong - 22 Yrs Product designer Guangdong Province 'The more difficulties I encounter the harder I try'.
  • Jell Zhu - 22 Yrs Student of communication Guangdong Province 'I think its time for us to stand up for ourselves and be who we really are'.Jell Zhu - 22 Yrs Student of communication Guangdong Province 'I think its time for us to stand up for ourselves and be who we really are'.
  • Jasmine Li - 20 Yrs Student of communication Guangdong Province 'Eager to have a heart wider than the universe'.Jasmine Li - 20 Yrs Student of communication Guangdong Province 'Eager to have a heart wider than the universe'.
  • Rainbow Su - 22 Yrs Student software engineering Guangdong Province 'I am worrying something. Girls in China is becoming materialistic, without house my girlfriend would not marry me. My parents cannot help me either. So I need to get good job with high payment, that's what I totally want'.Rainbow Su - 22 Yrs Student software engineering Guangdong Province 'I am worrying something. Girls in China is becoming materialistic, without house my girlfriend would not marry me. My parents cannot help me either. So I need to get good job with high payment, that's what I totally want'.
  • Yuen Fei - 27 Yrs Post grad philosophy student and now owns small handicraft shop. Shanxi Province 'I want China to be a bit democratic'.Yuen Fei - 27 Yrs Post grad philosophy student and now owns small handicraft shop. Shanxi Province 'I want China to be a bit democratic'.
  • Xie Xin - 21 Yrs Student of business management in Beijing but learning english in Guangxi Guangxi Province 'If we consume all our energy, how can mankind live in this world'.Xie Xin - 21 Yrs Student of business management in Beijing but learning english in Guangxi Guangxi Province 'If we consume all our energy, how can mankind live in this world'.
  • Zhang Lee Dan - 23 Yrs Landscape gardener Guangxi Province 'I have come here to relax'.Zhang Lee Dan - 23 Yrs Landscape gardener Guangxi Province 'I have come here to relax'.
  • Chan Jie Fang - 28 Yrs Supervisor in bag making company in Guangdong Province but learning english in Guangxi Province 'I'd like to see any supernatural thing, such as alien, UFO, mysterious thing'.Chan Jie Fang - 28 Yrs Supervisor in bag making company in Guangdong Province but learning english in Guangxi Province 'I'd like to see any supernatural thing, such as alien, UFO, mysterious thing'.
  • Avril Lui - 22 Yrs Post grad student Guangxi Province 'We are the lost generation. I am so confused about the world'.Avril Lui - 22 Yrs Post grad student Guangxi Province 'We are the lost generation. I am so confused about the world'.
  • Jia Jia - 25 Yrs (Day) Mobile phone after sales service / (Evening) Studying marketing management / (Night) Professional nightclub dancer Guangxi Province 'Now days many young people do not care about the development of China and the world. They only care about themselves and ignore other people and things around them'.Jia Jia - 25 Yrs (Day) Mobile phone after sales service / (Evening) Studying marketing management / (Night) Professional nightclub dancer Guangxi Province 'Now days many young people do not care about the development of China and the world. They only care about themselves and ignore other people and things around them'.
  • Fu Wie Dong - 22 Yrs Was an insurance agent now unemployed Hubei Province 'I want to go to Paris, because Paris is the capitial of Romance and fashion'.Fu Wie Dong - 22 Yrs Was an insurance agent now unemployed Hubei Province 'I want to go to Paris, because Paris is the capitial of Romance and fashion'.
  • Xiang Xue - 18 Yrs About to finish school after which she will migrate to Shanghai for a factory job Hubei Province 'I like english very much. I want to go on english but I don't much money. So I don't to know what I will go'.Xiang Xue - 18 Yrs About to finish school after which she will migrate to Shanghai for a factory job Hubei Province 'I like english very much. I want to go on english but I don't much money. So I don't to know what I will go'.
  • Song Jing Ping - 22 Yrs Runs two basic restaurants with her fiancee Hubei Province (Migrated from a village 400km away) 'When people leave their village to live in the city, it is very hard for them to return'.Song Jing Ping - 22 Yrs Runs two basic restaurants with her fiancee Hubei Province (Migrated from a village 400km away) 'When people leave their village to live in the city, it is very hard for them to return'.
  • Jiang Min - 24 Yrs Farmer Henan Province 'I want to walk my own path, I don't want other people telling me what to do'.Jiang Min - 24 Yrs Farmer Henan Province 'I want to walk my own path, I don't want other people telling me what to do'.
  • Guan Ying Ni - 25 Yrs Computer systems analyst Shanghai 'City should be slow down, countryside should be speed up'.Guan Ying Ni - 25 Yrs Computer systems analyst Shanghai 'City should be slow down, countryside should be speed up'.
  • Feng Long - 21 Yrs First time migrant labourer working on new building interiors Shanghai 'Why aren't there any companies setting up factories in the countryside? We don't want to work as migrant labourers'.Feng Long - 21 Yrs First time migrant labourer working on new building interiors Shanghai 'Why aren't there any companies setting up factories in the countryside? We don't want to work as migrant labourers'.
  • Wei lai - 23 Yrs Receptionist in art gallery Shanghai 'We should all go backwards to ancient society'.Wei lai - 23 Yrs Receptionist in art gallery Shanghai 'We should all go backwards to ancient society'.
  • Liu Gu - 26 Yrs Mobile phone hardware designer Beijing 'If I had a sister would be better'.Liu Gu - 26 Yrs Mobile phone hardware designer Beijing 'If I had a sister would be better'.
  • Meng Hai Lin - 29 Yrs Mobile phone Engineer Beijing 'Why people must to get married'.Meng Hai Lin - 29 Yrs Mobile phone Engineer Beijing 'Why people must to get married'.
  • Wendy Xhang - 20 Yrs Law Student studying in Canada Great Wall of China 'Before I die, I want to see a united China. Both united with its self and with the world'.Wendy Xhang - 20 Yrs Law Student studying in Canada Great Wall of China 'Before I die, I want to see a united China. Both united with its self and with the world'.
  • Zeng Yi - 23 Yrs Student of political science Beijing 'Communication is essential among different nations. So let's have a cup of tea and have a talk, let's become much closer'.Zeng Yi - 23 Yrs Student of political science Beijing 'Communication is essential among different nations. So let's have a cup of tea and have a talk, let's become much closer'.
  • Chen Yang - 19 Yrs Student of international politics Beijing 'Tolerance towards everybody contributes to a more peaceful and wonderful world'.Chen Yang - 19 Yrs Student of international politics Beijing 'Tolerance towards everybody contributes to a more peaceful and wonderful world'.
  • Lim - 22 Yrs Student of party politics Beijing 'Do not judge China from the media, because the real China is not on the papers'.Lim - 22 Yrs Student of party politics Beijing 'Do not judge China from the media, because the real China is not on the papers'.
  • Ba Te Er - 18 Yrs Was a Mongolian herder but due to a ban on keeping lifestock in the area is now a tourist guide Inner Mongolia (Illiterate) 'Without my horse I am nothing'.Ba Te Er - 18 Yrs Was a Mongolian herder but due to a ban on keeping lifestock in the area is now a tourist guide Inner Mongolia (Illiterate) 'Without my horse I am nothing'.
  • Li Jung Yang - 25 Yrs Was a Mongolian sheep herder but due to a ban on keeping lifestock in the area is now a tourist guide. Inner Mongolia 'I hope I could eat lamb, quaff wine spirits, and keep singing and dancing like I was five years ago. This is our families wish'.Li Jung Yang - 25 Yrs Was a Mongolian sheep herder but due to a ban on keeping lifestock in the area is now a tourist guide. Inner Mongolia 'I hope I could eat lamb, quaff wine spirits, and keep singing and dancing like I was five years ago. This is our families wish'.
  • Zhang Shuang - 18 Yrs Travelling high school graduate from Liaoling Province Inner Mongolia 'I am enjoying exploring China on my own'.Zhang Shuang - 18 Yrs Travelling high school graduate from Liaoling Province Inner Mongolia 'I am enjoying exploring China on my own'.
  • Chow Liang - 17 Yrs Hair stylist student on way to see father who works in another provinceChow Liang - 17 Yrs Hair stylist student on way to see father who works in another province
  • Zhang Xiang Yun - 24 Yrs Just returned to village from migrant construction work Gansu ProvinceZhang Xiang Yun - 24 Yrs Just returned to village from migrant construction work Gansu Province
  • Yang Long Long - 30 Yrs Farmer Gansu Province (Illiterate) 'When I go to the big city I feel like I don't know anything'.Yang Long Long - 30 Yrs Farmer Gansu Province (Illiterate) 'When I go to the big city I feel like I don't know anything'.
  • Qiang Chow - 25 Yrs Construction worker Qinghai Province 'I dream that one day I can go to the holy Potala Palace in Lhasa for Pilgrimage'.Qiang Chow - 25 Yrs Construction worker Qinghai Province 'I dream that one day I can go to the holy Potala Palace in Lhasa for Pilgrimage'.
  • Ma Xiao Lian - 19 Yrs Farmer Qinghai Province (Illiterate) 'My husband and I want to become migrant labourers so we can work hard to make ourselves and our parents happy'.Ma Xiao Lian - 19 Yrs Farmer Qinghai Province (Illiterate) 'My husband and I want to become migrant labourers so we can work hard to make ourselves and our parents happy'.
  • Heng She Dong - 16 Yrs Junior high school student Qinghai Province 'I want to save peoples lives'.Heng She Dong - 16 Yrs Junior high school student Qinghai Province 'I want to save peoples lives'.
  • Luo Zheng Chui - 30 Yrs Farmer Yunnan Province 'After watching television I have many thoughts, but I know I cannot achieve them'.Luo Zheng Chui - 30 Yrs Farmer Yunnan Province 'After watching television I have many thoughts, but I know I cannot achieve them'.
  • Xu Ai Hua - 19 Yrs High school graduate Yunnan Province 'I think China's economy will continue to develop forward'.Xu Ai Hua - 19 Yrs High school graduate Yunnan Province 'I think China's economy will continue to develop forward'.
  • Wong Jing Yi - 30 Yrs Works in a sex shop in Hong Kong 'I don't want children'.Wong Jing Yi - 30 Yrs Works in a sex shop in Hong Kong 'I don't want children'.
  • Sarah Yip - 22 Yrs Receptionist at investment bank Hong Kong 'Do whatever you want in your life as you might die tomorrow'.Sarah Yip - 22 Yrs Receptionist at investment bank Hong Kong 'Do whatever you want in your life as you might die tomorrow'.
  • David Cheung - 25 Yrs Post graduate in international trading Hong Kong 'I want to know who I really am & what I can do'.David Cheung - 25 Yrs Post graduate in international trading Hong Kong 'I want to know who I really am & what I can do'.

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For the last few centuries the west has dominated economics, politics and culture. But now there is a shift towards the east, in particular China, a country of 1.4 billion people of which we know little about.

It is the young Chinese who will inherit this new found global influence, but who are they and what do they think about life.

I have just returned from a 12500 km journey through China to find an answer to this question. I looked for young Chinese aged from 16 – 30 years, gave them a piece of paper and simply told them they could write what ever they wanted to on the piece of paper, I then photographed them holding the paper.

The results are fascinating

~

Adrian Fisk is part of the www.in-public.com international collective of street photographers.

He is fascinated with all things foreign. Originally from south-west England, he has lives in Delhi, and his work focuses on cultures far removed from his rural roots. He concentrates on capturing scenes of daily life in some of the most crowded cities in the world.

He is currently working on an iSpeak for India.

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Aug 24, 2009 | Filed under Adrian Fisk, Photographer, Photography, Photostories and tagged with , , , , .

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18 Responses Subscribe to comments


  1. Meena Kadri

    Sensational exploration!

    Enjoyed going back & forth between insights & locations. China & India are the 2 most diverse countries I’ve lived in and I could definitely relate to the plea not to judge China by the media.

    Brilliant project.

    Aug 24, 2009 @ 11:56 pm


  2. Nalin

    Great stuff !!

    Aug 25, 2009 @ 2:30 am


  3. Parikhit Pal

    Lovely project Adrian! love it cheers! good luck with ispeak India.

    Aug 25, 2009 @ 4:30 am


  4. Zishaan

    Brilliant project!

    Aug 25, 2009 @ 7:22 am


  5. Nick Gray

    This was really awesome – I truly loved hearing from all of these people in the photographs and reading their cards. Great work!

    Aug 25, 2009 @ 8:34 am


  6. Twitter Trackbacks for Blind Boys » Archive » ISpeakChina by Adrian Fisk [blindboys.org] on Topsy.com

    [...] Blind Boys » Archive » ISpeakChina by Adrian Fisk blindboys.org/2009/08/ispeakchina-by-adrian-fisk – view page – cached #Blind Boys RSS Feed Blind Boys » ISpeakChina by Adrian Fisk Comments Feed Blind Boys Sophie Ashraf: The Burkha Rapper by Ruhani Kaur The Farm by Johan — From the page [...]

    Aug 25, 2009 @ 3:55 pm


  7. Kirti Manian

    Awesome work.

    Aug 26, 2009 @ 1:03 am


  8. Shipra Chauhan

    Not just relevant, but fabulous work- and I am sure this feature is just the tip of the iceberg!
    Wondering if BlindBoys will delve deeper, post a series or maybe an interview with Adrian revealing even more from his experiences?
    Would love to hear more on this project.

    Aug 26, 2009 @ 5:40 am


  9. onear

    Superb subject! a great way of translating it into pictures and kudos uplifting the ethics of photography ….. keep it coming, have always enjoyed your work at in-public.

    Aug 27, 2009 @ 12:08 am


  10. Adrian Fisk

    Thanks for all the encouraging comments. Hope to post iSpeak India here when that is completed.

    Sep 04, 2009 @ 4:43 am


  11. Rajat

    This is some good work up here. I like it because of its simplicity. The idea is grass-root and common sense flows which makes me reaaaally happy. Great array, guys!

    Nov 26, 2009 @ 10:58 am


  12. Abhi

    awesome! cuts through at a very interesting angle..

    Nov 30, 2009 @ 7:24 am


  13. hannah

    thanks for this project. It is touching.

    Dec 12, 2009 @ 6:29 pm


  14. Ayan Khasnabis

    Awesome. Fantastic concept and a first ever experience to me.

    Dec 30, 2009 @ 4:04 am


  15. 小米

    这是一个人文思想主义者，他爱的是生命本身。
    一切都令人感动！

    Feb 07, 2010 @ 2:10 am


  16. Liz Mitchell

    A treasure! Thank you…all the best in your next project.

    Feb 07, 2010 @ 11:00 am


  17. guess

    Of course China doesnt want to get judged by the Media. Every country in the world get judged by the media, but China doesnt want to get judged by the media, or more correctly the Party doesnt want that.

    Interesting to see that the young fellow who said those words are a student of Party politics(!)

    Feb 07, 2010 @ 11:47 am


  18. Diana

    Love it!
    Very inspiring!

    Feb 07, 2010 @ 12:27 pm

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