Planet Shanghai

My images of Shanghai are in black and white, being mainly informed by classic 40's flicks like Shanghai Express and Charlie Chan In Shanghai. It seems to me to be a city lost in time, full of steam pouring from train engines and femme fatales and both danger and adventure lurking in every corner. It is certainly not a place where people live, get up, go to work, buy groceries and generally live and die the way people do all over the world. This is why "Planet Shanghai" was such an eye-opener for me. These are the people in the neighborhood. These are the people that you meet when you're walking down the street. Live and in living color, clad in multi-patterned pajamas, smoking and shopping, this is a record of Shanghai and the people who live there doing what they do, living their lives. I really enjoyed that this was not a "Weird Asia" book where the author tries to shock and amaze Western audiences with all that is "Not-American", but instead endeavors to make an accurate record of a city and lifestyle that may not last much longer. Photographer Justin Guariglia wants to let the people speak for themselves, and so this is a pure photography book. There are no captions or explanations, and aside from two short essays, one by Guariglia and one by travel writer John Krich, there is no text of any kind other than what you might find on the street. The photographs are categorized in eight sections, such as City, Style, Food, Dogs and Family & Friends. While some of the photographs are spontaneous, most of them are standing portraits, with the people presenting themselves as they are. And yes, some of it is odd. I didn't know that pajamas were normal streetwear in Shanghai, and a shot of the infamous "split pants" that children wear so that they can go to the toilet in the streets was funny to see. I have heard about them in several articles on China, but it was my first time to see a photograph. But that is about it. The strangeness is not emphasized, and that makes the book all the better.

This book combines two of my favorite photo subject matters, travel and portraiture. Consider it an insiders tour of traditional Shanghai where the locals go about their business in their pajamas. Not only is the subject matter interesting, but the images are well composed and just full of color and vibrancy. It makes me want to pack my bags, get on the first flight to Shanghai and go on a photo safari.

I bought this book a month ago and have been looking at the images ever since. This is a great snapshot of Shanghai as it is now (or at least, a couple of years back) and what an interesting tale it tells. If you cannot tell by the cover, this book is (mainly) about Shanghainese who go round their daily business dressed in pajamas. Not just ordinary pajamas - some are really loud and colorful and others just should NOT been seen outside of one's bedroom. But here they are, authentic Chinese nighties worn in broad daylight. The book is also a record of a China that is fast fading away, as the Chinese get more and more sophisticated, and more aware of their place in the world. Is the pajama-wearing Shanghainese a dying breed? Very possibly. All in all, this is a great book with fantastic pictures.