Culture

Finding beauty among the trash

By Wendy Qian (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-07-12 10:36

Disposable slippers are among the items found at dumps. [Photos provided to China Daily]

Dumpster divers make a living from trash in the Changxindian township, Fengtai district.

In 2008, before Garbage Besieged, Wang was photographing special Guizhou funeral customs. He encountered many dumps around the graveyards and felt miserable even after finishing the trip.

"After reflecting for some time, I decided to take action," Wang said. At the time, he was neither famous nor well-off and lacked sufficient funds for a lengthy mission to photograph the dumps.

With the help of fellow photographer Bao Kun, Wang successfully accomplished his project.

Wang rarely mentions the hardships he experienced during his trips.

"Obstacles? I've had lots," he said. "But they are all in the past."

Perhaps Wang's first and upcoming documentary, which looks at how he made Garbage Besieged, will help people understand the arduous process.

Kids walk past hills of garbage in Changxindian township, Fengtai district.

Even when he describes the rancid dumps and breathing difficulties he had when visiting them, Wang does not complain about his personal challenges but about the environmental problems besieging the city.

He said he took few safety precautions when visiting the hazardous areas.

"I'm no better than the dumpster divers; if they can do it, I can do it."

Wang has great respect for the dumpster divers he met on his excursions.

He embeds his hopes for equality in another series of photos, displayed on the second floor of the museum that focus on the people who congregate in and around the dumps.

"Other than our occupations, we are not different from them," he said. "They share all the great qualities of mankind."

In the photos, dumpster divers are not portrayed as desperate or pitiful subjects. In one photo, a child studies hard while another shows off a handstand. One group of grown-ups plays Mahjong while another hosts a 100-day celebration for their baby.

"Humanity is everywhere," Wang said.