These pictures were taken in Shanghai from the beginning of 2012 to the end of 2013 with some interruptions inbetween. The title of the project refers to an award granted to the “civilized” parks there, in preparation for the World Expo 2010. “Civilized” here means close adherence to the principles of a so-called socialist culture. The plate displaying this award can be seen at the entrace of nearly every park in Shanghai, so I found it a fitting name for this spread of pictures as well.
In May 2014, the pictures were exhibited in the Asian-Afrika-Institut of Hamburg University, in cooperation with the Konfuzius Institut Hamburg e.V. and the Hamburger Sinologische Gesellschaft e.V.
“Shanghai Civilized Park” is not the name of a specific park, but an award granted to a number of parks in Shanghai, which always proudly display this sign at the entrance. Promotion of “civilized” behaviour was part of the campaigns in the run-up to the Expo 2010, held in Shanghai.
A bus stop and a backdrop of new high-rise apartments near the intersection of Shimen yilu and Nanjing xilu in the heart of the city.
Gucheng park (古城公园): Gucheng park borrows the skyline of Pudong as scenery, but it’s not possible to walk there from the park. The wide Huangpu river is between the two.
Heping park (和平公园): Anglers on the bridge across the Lotus-pond.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): Photographer sporting a Canon and someone taking a nap on a bench.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): Photographer with the first blossoms of spring.
Yangpu park (杨浦公园): Reading the newspapers on display. The inscription above the papers reads: Humanity created the city, the city benefits humanity – Assembling the cultures of the world, displaying the culture of the city – City within nature, nature in the city.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): Reading newspapers on a hedge.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): Drawing a picture, with her boyfriend holding up the paper.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): A laowai (foreigner) visiting the park.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): A painter with two young “fans.”
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): First weekend of spring.
Zhongshan park (中山公园): An old woman with the group of cats she regularly feeds.
Jing’an sculpture park (静安雕塑公园): Children at play. Every five minutes or so, a guard would appear and yell at them to get off the statues.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): People watching others play cards.
Fuxing park (复兴公园): Watching another game of cards.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): Massage against all kinds of ailments.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): Mere seconds after he called out “I got one,” dozens of curious people surrounded the angler and the young guy helping him with a handnet.
Heping park (和平公园): Storage space for boats in the southern part of the park.
Huangxing park (黄兴公园): Having a break under the trees near the lake.
Fuxing park (复兴公园): Lunchtime nap on a bench.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): Calligraphy done with water from the lake. Once the water evaporates, no trace is left of the writing.
Fuxing park (复兴公园): Kongzhu – chinese Diabolo.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): Public dance group.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): Taiji practice.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): Taiji group practice.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): Line dance.
Xujiahui park (徐家汇公园): Having a shooting with friends.
Fuxing park (复兴公园): Flying kites is a serious pastime.
Yangpu park (杨浦公园): Getting a kite down from a tree.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): Angler with an umbrella-like hat.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): Visitors of the park discovered something in the water.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): A painter. The little sign on his easel says “looking for students.”
Fuxing park (复兴公园): Conductor and choir. The papers behind her are the notes to the song.
Yejia garden (叶家花园): The old garden of the Ye family. Constructed before the revolution, it was later turned into a public park.
Fuxing park (复兴公园): “Drawn in front of a live audience.”
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): Reading the papers while others are doing sports.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): Young gardeners on a break using their smartphones.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): A game of chinese chess.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): Lovers of music.
Fuxing park (复兴公园): “Wedding photos” for fun.
Fuxing park (复兴公园): A scene with an angler. Most parks feature elements of traditional Chinese landscape architecture, in which rocks and water play an important role.
Zhongshan park (中山公园): Public announcement: Due to restructuration works, all the greenery of the park will be fenced in for the summer.
Lu Xun park (鲁迅公园): Going home through the southern gate of the park.
Appartment houses on the northern bank of Wusong river, photographed from Jiangning lu bridge.
