義字街 R. da Emenda
A series of photography documentary for a small community in Macau, which is forgotten by mainstream media.
For a long time, Macau has been depicted by advertisements and news as an Eastern version of Las Vegas, a center of tourism, luxury shopping, and gaming. I never knew that there was another version of Macau until, one day, I lost my way and accidentally came across a lovely market street, which later I learned it was called Yizi Street (義字街, R. da Emenda).
When I was standing there, a mixed feeling raised to my heart. It was so familiar to me that reminded me of the markets I went with my mum in Guangzhou. But it was different, the foods that were selling, the costumes people wearing, and the ways people talked to me made me realized there was a well-blended culture of Muslim, Portuguese, Chinese, Cantonese, and many others. It made me felt that I am welcomed and accepted, no matter where I came from and who I am. For me, Yizi Street was not only a street market but a small world full of unique cultures and people composed of kind personalities and eccentric life stories.
The photos were taken when the street was under the government's gentrification process. Many stores and vendors were forced to sell out their products at low prices before the deadline. When I was taking photos, the vendors and shop owners shared their anxiety and uncertainty about the future with me. Still, they were having an optimistic and generous attitude towards their future
Year: 2014
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