
The former Royal Asiatic Society building
Far from the maddening crowds on the Bund, the Rockbund Art Museum on Huqiu Lu (虎丘路) is a favored destination that singularly embodies the East meets West history, design and architecture of…
Far from the maddening crowds on the Bund, the Rockbund Art Museum on Huqiu Lu (虎丘路) is a favored destination that singularly embodies the East meets West history, design and architecture of…
I’ve always liked the predictability and soothing effect of uncomplicated patterns. This was one reason why I found myself standing in front of a discreet entrance off the…
What makes a shikumen (石库门) header an architectural tapestry so emblematic of Shanghai? The grey stone pediment, shaped in a triangle or semi-circle, contains designs that range from the…
My interview with Maureen Fan about her grandfather, Robert Fan Wenzhao (1893-1979), has been long overdue. What started as an introductory email several years ago grew into a…
I love hearing from passionate artists who reach out to share their works – photo essays, poems, short films – a reflection of their time, consideration and dedication….
In the years of photographing Shanghai, I’ve had a chance to meet a wide array of talented photographers and researchers as enthusiastic about documenting the city as I am. They…
This past weekend has proven to be overly active that Monday’s malaise at the office desk seemed like a welcome break. As part of an art collaboration with…
Today’s links are all about Shanghai and China, and how the past and present influence and haunt each other. – Bai Xiaoci has been photographing his series, “I…
For those in mainland China, I trust you had a pleasant break over the absurdly arranged Dragonboat Festival holiday (we got Monday to Wednesday off after a 7…
Caio Yosuke Ishizuka (石塚洋介) is a Japanese Ph.D candidate in Shanghai studying the role of photographers in advocating social movements across East Asia. He is also an…
How do we as foreigners view China? Beyond the tired observations of the darker side of urbanisation, weathered and beaten portraits of the under-classes, what do we see…
Months ago, I answered a call from a most unexpected person. “Who is this?” I inquired snappishly, assuming it to be yet another sales call interrupting my evening….
The weekend was mostly gloomy and wet though offering a comforting blanket for a restful two days best enjoyed with a quiet cup of tea and movie du jour. But for…
We travel around the world in this week’s photography links, touching on culture, poverty, urbanization and daily life. – New Yorker profiles Caroline Drake’s work on Central Asia with rather…
One thing I promised myself with the blog’s revival is to share more as I’m hoping readers will evolve a little with me as we expand beyond Shanghai…
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Trapped in a bustling mall at the worst possible time – lunch, I was in line at a restaurant when I spotted Captain…
Photography: Sebastião Salgado I visit London frequently and make it a point to take in one or two exhibits each time. Art and culture are abundant and highly accessible in…
It’s odd to see the screaming pronouncements “WASH! IRON!” through a sea of laundry along a busy alley. Sunday afternoon meant residents were out in the streets, and hanging every piece of…
I confess that nowadays, the Iphone has become de facto of a wieldy DSLR despite my occasional dissatisfaction with the output quality of my old Iphone. My recent…
Shanghai’s benevolent and beautiful spring weather is upon us, so get out there and enjoy it before the humidity and heat inflict their seasonal cruelty come June. Now, I…