Chinese Lives

It is just so hard to say “I love you” to dad and mom. We do not hug our parents or siblings when we are adults, impossible for kiss of course. Quiet and hiding emotions, that could not be a wrong description about general Chinese.

But we truly love our parents. It is in our 2000 years’ (probably longer) Confucious tradition that has educated generations’ Chinese. We are supposed to look after parents when they are old and fragile, which is in the law. However, not only me, we feel mouth glued, throat choked when we are about to say the love words.

Probably, love is a verb, besides we are too shy. A photographer, Mr. Jiao Bo, help us visualise the heavy love through his photography collections My Dad and Mom, which is made during more than 20 years, recording their life from 1978 till they passed away at 86 and 92.

Jiao Bo said, he feels lucky to have kept this project running during those years, because he feels the photographs slow down their dying process, and keep safe a precious memory of a loving couple and parents, who used to live.

The first photo was taken in 1978.

Dad took his father’s photo to climb Hua Shan, highest and most steep mountain in China.

Dad’s favorite photo. He was making faces to mirror, which amused sick mom.

First time to make a phone call.

In 2001, their 70 wedding anniversary.

In 2002, their last photo.