Freedom Of Expression

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Freedom Of Expression
Photo Information
Copyright: Kev Ryan (KevRyan) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1874 W: 183 N: 4561] (19943)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-03
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Canon EOS 5D
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-03-27 4:03
Viewed: 389
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
One of the things that most Western neophytes to China might imagine is the absence of a level of self expression that they might consider as of right. In such a short visit it is hard to see where the freedom to express ends and restriction begins but I certainly experienced a reserve around certain things and some questions were avoided.....some questions to artists were best answered out of earshot of those people they might have felt uncomfortable speaking in front of. However, challenging levels of self expression were not lacking in the artists we met.

This young arts student was sitting at the roadside with his adapted face mask looking for all the world as if he was in performance art mode - nobody seemed to take any notice of him so I guess the symbolic significance is just something I read into the situation. We visited a lot of artists, some of whom produced what I would deem very political work but their response to such a tag was often a kind of bemused denial within the public context.......of course there is always enormous room for misinterpretation cross-culturally.

I found the apparent level of freedom of creative expression to be entirely contradictory to my expectations....... I saw some amazing work and met some remarkably skilled and innovative people. I just kept my eye as constantly as I could on fathoming the context i was in - elusive as that appeared at times.......My education into contemporary Chinese art has only just begun............what a fascinating place to be.

I'm not sure what the form is that the guy is holding - possibly some kind of registration form - for all the hours I was around this area large groups of students were lined up on a particular part of the campus to attend tables run by staff........perhaps he was sitting there considering his options or maybe they were results or perhaps he was just keeping out the traffic fumes.......his mate with the pencils probably has the answer!
Partha_c, pgorod, MiguelP, pilpel-adom, designsoul, luisafonso has marked this note useful
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To luisafonso: I think you are right....KevRyan 1 03-29 19:46
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • faubry Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3355 W: 343 N: 4036] (25805)
  • [2007-03-27 5:18]

bonjour Kev, very beautiful attitude and expression captured here,... i like cadrage, well done
francine

Hi Kev. A very nice journalistic shot. Beautifully backed up by a crisp note. I read it twice before adding my comments here. Thanks for sharing. Shall see it again, read it again later. Regards.
Partha

Freedom of expression is an issue that is creating a big controversy here in Spain. Yes, surprisingly true at this moment of history. Concerning China, you bring here an important point we use to forget for the good of economy, and I like the way you have done it. Take care and I see you soon.

Funny shot, good crop and framing, I like the guy standing behind. Interesting note, amazing how different HOng Kong still is.

  • Great 
  • pgorod Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 378 W: 65 N: 307] (1114)
  • [2007-03-27 10:00]

Hi Kev,

even if he wasn't expressing himself politically with that gesture, I think it's a good shot and a very nice reading that you can make of that gesture. If it wasn't him who found an artistic representation of lack of freedom of expression, then you certainly did with this picture and post.

Very interesting what you write, and indeed the picture offers itself to much pondering... what that gesture may mean... a kind of passive resistance? Keeping away from bad air? A sense of indecision about courses? A personal performance art? We don't know. But upon reading the note, Kev, many possibilities exist here, and that is intriguing.
A nice shot, although it looks slightly overexposed on my monitor here, it is a wonderful addition to your Chinese works.
sasa

Interesting shot, Kev!
You're close contact here sure helps getting the feeling of being close to this student, to see his eyes crying to get different attitude from the goverment, dying to be heard with freedom of speech and of art... Framing is also good, getting him and the guy to his right...
Well done!
Chen

Another great souvenir Kev, and the intense gaze on his face just raises so much curiosity. Just a touch overexposed, but easily fixed.

My best bet is that is bored to death with some kind of bureaucracy wait and this is just a natural boredom behavior. I can be wrong of course! :) I miss some sharpness here and a little overexposure, specially in his hands. Nothing really special of course, but given your last output I would probably say that this one is a bit at the rear end of your Chinese queue.

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