Last Updated on 2023/02/12
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As I was chronicling the transformation of Kunming, an unexpected and tragic event occurred, turning my visual story into a sorrowful tale
This is the story of a field in front of my house in Kunming, China.
I lived in Kunming, China for nearly seven years, residing in a beautiful condo located in the northern part of the city. From my window, I had the privilege of witnessing the gradual development of the area and observing the transformation of the local people’s daily habits. As a photographer, I felt compelled to document these changes and capture the essence of the evolving community.
2008
January
When I moved to the new apartment, the field was partially cultivated. Local people used to go there to fly their kites, especially the elderly and the kids.
February
The field was the perfect place to celebrate the Chinese New Year with fireworks.
August
In August people celebrated the Hungry Ghost Festival by burning incense and offering to placate the ghosts.
November
In the middle of the field, there was an abandoned factory.
During the rainy season, the field was completely flooded.
Workers started to build a wall around the field. Its destiny was signed.
At the beginning a local company wanted to build a park, then they decided to build a hospital.
The Chinese character 拆 (chai) means “to be demolished”
A hall in the abandoned factory
The factory was spooky at night!
December
Soon the wall was completed.
The first trucks and bulldozers appeared in the field.
However, they didn’t have any clue about what they were doing.
2009
January
People observe the works.
February
Another Chunjie celebration.
This time, locals were more organized and they sold fireworks directly on the spot.
They were gorgeous!
May
Soon, the old factory was demolished.
July
During the summer the ground was covered by thick, green grass.
The construction company began to dig the ground.
The sheeps didn’t care.
November
For a few months the work were stopped for some bureaucratic problem.
A paved road crossing the field was finally built.
December
The first holes were covered for some reason. The local construction company changed its plan and soon the work started again.
2010
One day a fire burnt a portion of the field.
Hundred of trucks started to arrive in the field, day and night.
Despite the works, local people still enjoyed flying kites.
February
The first of a long line of fireworks booths for the Chinese New Year celebration.
April
The construction company began to dig other holes.
Old people flying kites.
Hello panda!
A torrid April.
At the end of April, the rain came down filling the empty building foundations.
May
For some reason, the works were suspended again.
Kids were attracted by the pools.
Every day they used to play and take a bath in the dirty mud water.
July
Then, one day a young boy drowned in the pool. Police arrived and they carried away the dead body.
This was the story of the field in front of my house, in Kunming.
Update 2020: For anyone curious, eventually, they made a hospital, a commercial center, and a few residential buildings.
Photos by Matteo Damiani
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