Documentary Projects Shortlist

Walking through the narrow alleys of Sichuan and Chongqing in China, the photographer often encounters what they describe as a ‘unique urban texture: a peculiar ability to distil the grand, sometimes even surreal sense of collectivism into the most mundane locations.’ This collectivism is not necessarily the product of formal organisation, but a deep-seated habit of existence that is manifested in the ubiquitous act of ‘gathering around a single table.’ Here, collectivism provides a sense of security — a form of ‘social Zen’ that blends ‘the bitterness and the magic of life into the sound of shuffling tiles and casual greetings.’