In a big busy city like Beijing, it’s easy to get lost in our day to day – focus on our phones on our daily commute, tune out everyone and everything while we run through the motions. Sometimes, it’s nice to stop and take in the city we call home, perhaps even document what we see with a snapshot.
This is the modus operandi of LS Lee, a British expat and photographer whose works are now on display at Aotu Space.
An observer within a sometimes unpredictable city, Lee’s photographs work to find the little moments in Beijing. His current exhibition, titled Peking into Beijing, continues the themes Lee presented in previous exhibitions, focusing on intimate moments and the people of the city, with a twist this time around.
“The color photographs are a kind of respite from the directness and intensity of the black-and-white images,” says the artist of the choice to include color photographs in this exhibition. Unlike the black-and-white photos, which depict people at an intimate level, the color photos depict still life and deliberately avoid showing people directly.
In this way, the color photos act as a means of coming up to the surface for air for Lee and the audience, he explains, adding it’s like getting “away from the noisiness and messiness of people, which is something we all need from time to time.”
Besides the color photos, Lee says the amount of black-and-white photos in the exhibition space has expanded since his last show, offering more glimpses of Beijing life to take in.
Of all the photographs on display, Lee says his favorites are those with children. “Kids are always genuine, sincere, and above all playful,” he tells us. “It’s always a joy to witness this and capture it on camera.”
LS Lee’s Peking into Beijing is showing from now until Sunday, Sep 1 at Aotu Space. The venue is open from noon to 10pm daily. Entry is free.
Aotu Space
67 Beixinqiao Toutiao, Dongcheng District
东城区北新桥头条67号
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Images courtesy of LS Lee