Picturing World Cultures: Mark Leong – China

In today’s podcast, we sit down with Mark Leong, a fifth-generation Chinese-American photographer, for Picturing World Cultures.

Above photograph © Mark Leong

From his arrival in 1980s Beijing on a one-year travel fellowship, to his decision to live and work there long-term over the following decades, we follow Mark’s path from his ancestral village to the Beijing art scene, and beyond.

He walks us through his experiences in documenting the massive cultural shifts as Chinese society transitioned from uniformity and limited choice to a realm of consumerism and increasing globalization.

We also discuss Mark’s long-term photographic project featuring China’s Post-90’s generation, the young adults born under the country’s one-child policy.

As Mark points out toward the end of our chat, “What’s interesting to me about this generation I’m photographing is that they have this kind of creativity, and they have the resources to use this creativity to make something.”

If you haven’t already listened, check out all the episodes of our Picturing World Cultures podcast series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyvuS7237e7_EmKqY-hfNp-jXMqAUdBZn

Guest: Mark Leong
For more information about our guest and the gear he uses, see: https://bhpho.to/3USAZJg

Guest Bio:
Mark Leong is a fifth-generation Chinese-American born and raised in Sunnyvale, California. After graduating from Harvard University in 1988, he was awarded a year-long Gardner Travel Fellowship to photograph in his ancestral homeland. He returned to China in 1992, as an artist-in-residence at Beijing’s Central Academy of Fine Art. He ultimately decided to relocate to Beijing long-term, where he lived until 2017. During that time, he had a front row seat to the many changes in the world’s most populous country.

A contributing photographer for National Geographic, Mark’s photos have appeared in many other major publications. In 2003, he joined the photo agency, Redux Pictures. His book China Obscura was published in 2004.

He’s also received support from the NEA, Fifty Crows, the Overseas Press Club, the Open Society, and most recently, Center’s Blue Earth Fiscal Sponsorship Award. After many years in Beijing, Mark now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, yet he continues his work on extended photo projects in China.

Stay Connected:
- Mark Leong Website: https://www.markleongphotography.com/
- Mark Leong on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markleongphotography/
- Mark Leong on Redux Website: https://reduxpictures.com/artist/mark-leong
- Mark Leong’s book China Obscura: https://www.amazon.com/China-Obscura-Mark-Leong/dp/0811844617
- Mark Leong’s Award from Center: https://centersantafe.org/comingofage

0:00 Intro
3:20: Mark’s upbringing in California and the two sides of his Chinese ancestry.
8:12: Mark’s arrival in China on a travel fellowship in 1989, and a visit to his ancestral village.
12:33: Mark’s early street photography and his strategy to photograph first and ask questions later.
14:57: Returning to China to study at Beijing’s Central Academy of Fine Art amid the rise of consumer culture and globalization.
20:22: Mark’s photo gear, both film and digital, and his approach to working with wide-angle lenses.
25:30: Photography etiquette, privacy issues, and permissions when working in public spaces.
30:20: Episode Break
31:50: A general background on China’s one-child policy.
32:59: The shifting relationship between these “Little Emperors” and their parents and grandparents.
39:37: A gender gap within China’s Post-90’s generation and increasing pressures on these individuals as they come of age.
44:57: The city of Shenzhen and its reputation as China’s most youthful city.
46:35: Entrepreneurship among China’s Post-90s generation and connections to Influencer culture in America.
52:05: Cultural differences and convergence between young adults in China and America.
55:04: Mark Leong answers our PWC Visual Questionnaire.

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