Series description
The Intermission project began with a spring sunset casting a soft glow on the clothes drying on my family's rooftop, transporting me back to childhood evenings at my grandmother's home. This nostalgia inspired me to capture the essence of everyday traditions in our fast-paced world. My work focuses on these commonplace scenes in my hometown, particularly the airing of linens and garments at noon, symbolising a pause in our daily hustle. Through my lens, I explore how these moments become tranquil intermissions in urban life, offering glimpses of simplicity and continuity. This project represents a reflection on time, a respect for the past, and a hope for the future. Each photo weaves a story of deep familial connections and traditions, aiming to resonate with shared emotions and memories about home.
Biography
Yufei Ma, born in 2001 in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China, is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in photography and Video at the School of Visual Arts in New York. His works are often inspired by personal memories, emotions, and states of being, and he explores through his lens those moments in daily life that are easily overlooked, along with the emotions and memories they encompass.
Pink, Green, and Red
I took this photo in the neighbourhood where I lived as a child. This scene took me back to when I was a child, lying under the warm blanket at my grandma's house.
© Yufei Ma, China Mainland, Shortlist, Student Competition, Home, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
The Curtain
While I was working on this project, I went to lots of neighbourhoods in the old parts of our cities, to observe the habits of people as they lived their lives. One day I found a neighbourhood that was built on a platform between buildings, and the people there used the only space left to dry their sheets.
© Yufei Ma, China Mainland, Shortlist, Student Competition, Home, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
Square Mattress
This photo was taken on the roof of my house on a beautiful day. These drying sheets look bright in the sunlight.
© Yufei Ma, China Mainland, Shortlist, Student Competition, Home, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
High Noon
This photo was taken in a neighbourhood built on a deck next to my house. On their side near the road, they also have a platform for drying sheets. The contrast between the tall buildings and this neighbourhood reminded me of the ways that city life differs from traditional living habits.
© Yufei Ma, China Mainland, Shortlist, Student Competition, Home, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
Drying Net
This photo was taken in a neighbourhood built on a deck next to my house. I was not sure who had hung the net for drying nori. It was a little breezy that day, so this net and the clothes drying behind it fluttered in the wind.
© Yufei Ma, China Mainland, Shortlist, Student Competition, Home, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
The War of Gods Has Just Begun
This photo was taken in an old neighbourhood in our hometown, where I found a clothesline with children's clothes hanging on it. On the wall behind this clothesline, there were words written by a child playing around - The War of Gods Has Just Begun! This took me back to my own childhood.
© Yufei Ma, China Mainland, Shortlist, Student Competition, Home, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
Middle Break
This photo was taken at midday one day. The sun was shining on these children's clothes hanging on the clothesline. In that moment I felt a sense of calm, neutrality and peace.
© Yufei Ma, China Mainland, Shortlist, Student Competition, Home, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
Gentle Side
This photo was taken on the roof of my house, with clothes blown off by the wind scattered on the ground. The clothes lay coiled up like a small animal on the ground.
© Yufei Ma, China Mainland, Shortlist, Student Competition, Home, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards