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'.

« Previous     Next »

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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56 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. Amazing Photos from Adrian Fisk’s “I Speak China” « Beyond China's Single Story

    [...] If a picture is worth a thousand words, what’s the value of a picture a poster full of carefully selected handwritten words?  I just stumbled across this amazing series of photos from British photographer Adrian Fisk, on BlindBoys.org. [...]

    Feb 07, 2010 @ 6:13 am


  17. Liz Mitchell

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

    Feb 07, 2010 @ 11:00 am


  18. 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


  19. Diana

    Love it!
    Very inspiring!

    Feb 07, 2010 @ 12:27 pm


  20. Beth Oppenheim

    What an amazing portrait. I love this work and I think it is a terrific way to get out there the varied perspectives of a place – both physically and emotionally by the people. Thank you!

    Feb 08, 2010 @ 7:46 am


  21. 小天

    This is very very newbility!

    Feb 09, 2010 @ 8:08 am


  22. Tamara Hughes

    This is great. I have recently returned from a month long trip to China. Many of the comments mirror what was said by many when I was there. Great idea and great pics!

    Feb 09, 2010 @ 9:51 am


  23. Kelly

    This man got the TRUE meaning about life which he loves deep down his soul. Cheer for him!

    Feb 09, 2010 @ 2:30 pm


  24. Kelly

    So do I！

    Feb 09, 2010 @ 2:37 pm


  25. byterain

    Environment,people and simple words,show the really things in the life. Amazing

    Feb 09, 2010 @ 6:46 pm


  26. Yuele

    这个东西很有创意
    =。=

    Feb 09, 2010 @ 9:20 pm


  27. Froukje

    Adrian, beautiful and emotional work.
    love it.
    Froukje

    Feb 09, 2010 @ 11:51 pm


  28. Levi_china

    It is a beautiful work..

    all chinese people want to talk about what he want, but they have not anyway to say..!

    Feb 10, 2010 @ 2:25 am


  29. nonleaf

    #10
    ‘I want China to be a bit democratic’.

    In fact, it’s ‘I want China to be more democratic’.

    Feb 10, 2010 @ 2:31 pm


  30. ross

    我可以把我自己这样的照片发布给你么？
    How Can I Send My Photo like this to U?

    Feb 10, 2010 @ 6:42 pm


  31. iSpeakChina | 避難所

    [...] 记得在一次纪录片导演周浩的分享会上，一位同学问他：您拍的《高三》想表达什么呢？周反问说：我想表达的，不都已经表达给你了吗？是的，我很喜欢这组摄影，但只有你看后的感触才是最真实的。观影请移步 [...]

    Feb 12, 2010 @ 11:23 am


  32. ms. big ass

    豆瓣观光团。

    seeing or taking those pics cannot change any goddamn thing.

    anyway i dont like foreigners judging china.

    Feb 14, 2010 @ 3:03 am


  33. Fonzie

    @Liz Mitchell:

    Congratulations on totally missed the point and being the exactly judgmental type the guy in the picture was referring to.

    Feb 17, 2010 @ 3:43 am


  34. Leonard

    I’m a undergraduate in china，i like your style in taking pictures

    Feb 21, 2010 @ 2:34 am


  35. kaka

    good work. i am a 26 years old Chinese. if you pictured me, i will write: i not happy for the reality, so dark!

    Feb 26, 2010 @ 6:54 am


  36. @TaoZhiYong

    我只发现美女太少。懂英语的太多。

    Feb 26, 2010 @ 7:07 am


  37. glory glory man united

    @ fonzie

    i share liz’ opinion as a chinese.

    to quote a recent line “r u speaking for the party or for the people?”

    Feb 26, 2010 @ 9:19 am


  38. 在这里，读懂中国_阑夕_新浪博客 « 最新最热网页游戏报道

    [...] Fisk这次中国之旅所拍摄下的全部图片，想看更多，可以移步他的个人博客：http://blindboys.org/2009/08/ispeakchina-by-adrian-fisk，或者他的Flickr相册：http://www.flickr.com/photos/adrianfisk。 推荐相关的热文: [...]

    Feb 26, 2010 @ 10:29 am


  39. yeeyou

    震撼！！
    看这组图片之前 我对大多数人的看法只限于外表 职业
    看完之后 我想：也许是时候去了解身边的人了
    爸爸 妈妈 哥哥 好像除了他们的生日我什么都不知道

    Feb 26, 2010 @ 7:04 pm


  40. Suki

    很棒的想法，透过几张照片、几句话看到了很多人的心声。

    Feb 26, 2010 @ 11:01 pm


  41. Kd

    支持！你的文章在xianguo.com上首页被推荐 .

    Feb 26, 2010 @ 11:49 pm


  42. 王朝辉

    手法

    Feb 27, 2010 @ 7:44 pm


  43. Vincent Yang

    though those pictures,i think we could understand a real China which is more reality ，more purity and more….. chinese.thank you , Mr photographer :)

    Feb 27, 2010 @ 10:28 pm


  44. Winston Wen

    @Liz Mitchell:

    Congratulations on totally missed the point and being the exactly judgmental type the guy in the picture was referring to.

    顶！！！

    Chinese government does not stand for the Chinese people!Come to China.You’ll find who we are.

    Feb 27, 2010 @ 10:56 pm


  45. diane

    Awesome work! I love these words and photos!

    Feb 27, 2010 @ 11:10 pm


  46. someone

    as a chinese, i want to travel in other countries, joy the different culture, i feel very tired for live now!

    Feb 28, 2010 @ 12:30 am


  47. wendy_shanghai

    Hello,I’m a student study in ireland but I’m a chinese.

    In ireland more than 4 year, I keep explain and express to my friend about my view of China ,most people are from europea.Beacuse of the different culture background, I also still can’t dissolve the real surrounding. At last, I mean finally the local people can not accept you, the reason is beacuse of you are totally different person also you have been get the high education background.

    But I’m so pride of I’m from shanghai, china

    Feb 28, 2010 @ 2:51 pm


  48. Laura

    I like these pictures

    如果要我说一句话就是如果可以到达法国，我这一生足矣！

    Feb 28, 2010 @ 8:43 pm


  49. Stormwhisper

    Real pictures, real people, real thoughts, real lifes!

    Mar 01, 2010 @ 1:47 am


  50. 林飞

    Hi there, what an amazing project !
    I have two questions :
    1 ) will the author allow me to translate it into French ?
    2 ) How long did it take to make the whole project ?

    请问：
    其一：能不能翻译成法语⋯⋯？
    其二：这个工程大概用了多长时间⋯⋯？

    加油中国哥们！

    PS
    #10
    ####‘I want China to be a bit democratic’.
    In fact, it’s ‘I want China to be more democratic’.###
    I think it would be better to say :

    Mar 01, 2010 @ 11:31 am


  51. mAx hua

    这才是中国的声音

    Mar 02, 2010 @ 11:40 pm


  52. leo loong

    Good!~`每个中国人都渴望中国政治更民主一点~`

    Mar 03, 2010 @ 8:46 am


  53. 迪迪

    very interesting

    Mar 03, 2010 @ 5:54 pm


  54. Elaine

    I showed your picture to my best friend,who’s studying arts in Korea.We both think you done a great job.

    Mar 03, 2010 @ 9:26 pm


  55. dde

    great.
    i like the one who said,you can’t trust what cn is from media of cn.

    Mar 03, 2010 @ 10:09 pm


  56. Adrian Fisk

    Hi StormWhisper.

    I would be honored if you were to translate into french. Thank you also for the correct translation of ‘I want China to be a bit democratic’. My Chinese translator wasn’t exactly sure on the best way to translate that one.

    My Chinese visa allowed 30 days on the mainland, and I spent 5 days in Hong Kong so the project in total took 35 days.

    The Chinese edition of Art World magazine in April is showing photographs from iSpeak China with some of Gillian Wearings photographs from which I took inspiration for the iSpeak concept.

    Thank you to everyone for the feedback. I am particularly glad that recent Chinese blogs have picked it up. Some like the project and others not, this is to be expected. But what I hope is that it does shed some light into the thoughts of the Chinese youth, thereby working to create a better understanding of China to foreign nations.

    I am now working on iSpeak Global, a massive project which over two years will take a look at the thoughts of youth from different countries across the world.

    Mar 11, 2010 @ 8:12 am

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