the endless job of sweeping the dust - Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Since first coming to China in early 2004, I have seen countless numbers of these "road sweepers", who seemingly have a thankless, endless task. In some cities such as Taiyuan, Shanxi province, the sweepers work in groups (both men and women). Taiyuan has the added 'problem' of dust both local from coal production and dust blown into the city from the ever expanding Gobi dessert. In a relatively modern/developed city such as Ningbo the road sweepers work from very early in the morning to just before sunset. I have seen (and photographed) mechanized truck road sweepers, but these are rare.
photo: mhobbs
Friday, June 25, 2010
dust sweeper
hutong wall with detail
i love the way this wall is constructed - the laying of the narrow stones one upon the other, stones or bricks gathered from various sources including of course older destroyed buildings, now recycled. (the proof of this is in the detail) The wall is constructed without any mortar - and forms the exterior wall on four sides of a hutong (tradition Chinese alley dwelling) Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China - late afternoon
photo: mhobbs
turn - nong tang # 37
after work a man walks home - "nong tang" (alley) Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China - late afternoon
photo: mhobbs
still
a bed sheet hangs between two small hutong (traditional Chinese alley dwellings) in a 'courtyard' small village, Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
photo: mhobbs
she turned
a factory worker still wearing her uniform heads home at the end of the work day - early evening - Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
I have been exploring the countless alleys and small streets around Gaoqiao since I first moved to Ningbo twelve months ago. The seemingly endless variation and hidden spaces never cease to amaze me, from a purely artistic point of view, the textures and "play of light" in these spaces has given me a wonderful opportunity that I will always remember.
photo: mhobbs
the time is always 6am
student dormitories "Dahongying University" - Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
these are the first year student dorms' the girls dorms opposite my apartment building - in all the schools (read Universities) that I have taught at in my five + years in China, all the dorm buildings are the same (not just similar, but exactly the same) which isn't unusual for China. They are six level (seven levels and a building must have an elevator) concrete buildings with a balcony for each dorm room (which is used to hang washing) the buildings are tiled on the exterior walls and have neither heating nor cooling, no hot water and no cooking facilities
photo: mhobbs
Monday, June 21, 2010
shallow - nong tang # 35
after a day of showers and some heavy rain the "nong tang" (alley) is dark and 'heavy' with water - Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
photo: mhobbs
she has some red
a woman strolls along a "nong tang" (alley) - protecting herself from the rain with a bright red umbrella - Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
photo: mhobbs
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