Wip 2. - On-site (在场)
In the period between February and June 2023, we embarked on two month-long expeditions to China, revisiting the urban landscapes of Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. These journeys were both enlightening and poignant, especially given that our last time in China was at the end of 2019. The transformation we witnessed was both rapid and profound, with the urban fabric of these cities undergoing significant metamorphoses.
Shanghai, in particular, bore the marks of astonishing urban renewal. Areas that were once familiar have been replaced, with many streets in the inner city now characterised by vacant edifices and bustling construction sites. One cannot traverse these urban precincts without encountering bold red banners proclaiming the virtues of urban regeneration.
What we have seen instilled in us a profound urgency; an imperative to delve deeper and understand the forces at play. This was not merely due to the erasure of familiar landscapes and memories, but also because of the challenges we faced as researchers. The relentless pace of bulldozers and urban development threatened to eclipse our research sites. Notably, several of our chosen fields– prominent urban villages in Shanghai and Shenzhen – were visibly waning, both physically and socially.
Gaining access to these sites proved challenging. Although we could enter some areas, others were strictly off-limits, particularly those earmarked for redevelopment or already under the purview of urban regeneration initiatives. In Shanghai, we encountered individuals in plain attire who seemingly held authority over these sites, curtailing our endeavours to conduct interviews, interact with locals, film, or even make casual inquiries.
No doubt these urban villages were spaces of power. Here, intricate issues, often deemed 'sensitive' – such as eviction, resettlement plans, compensation, and land and property rights – were deeply enmeshed. Without the guides of pivotal gatekeepers, we found ourselves lingering on the periphery, garnering only fragmentary insights. Nonetheless, as we continuously sought new ways of entry, it is hopeful to bring in future updates.
在2023年二月至六月期间，我们先后两次回到中国，分别在上海、深圳和广州，进行了为期总共两个月的城中村田野调查。自2019年年底以来就未回过国的我们，看到各大城市（尤其是老城区）在短短几年间的“面貌”变化，竟觉得有些酸楚，甚至有些尴尬。因为作为调研者，我们调查对象的空间在不断萎缩、甚至消失。但在感叹之余，我们也有了一些新的在地发现。
上海作为我们的第一站，其城市跟新的速度让我们大感讶异。我们原先所选定的“城中村”，不是已夷为平地，就是被围了起来，等待搬迁与拆建。所到之处，皆能看到悬挂在墙上或建筑物上的大红色横幅标语，说明城市跟新的目的与好处，宣告迁移赔偿的大好消息，又或者警告劝退任何有心阻碍城市更新进程的举动。一些深圳有名的城中村，现也变得面目全非，如曾经最大的城中村，白石洲就已经拆迁过半。虽仍有人居住，但街道已变得空空荡荡。各大街区都围上比人高的蓝色铁皮，切断了原本四通八达的小道，让人走在其中，却不知所踪。
不管是进入原本我们所选择的田野，还是试图探索新的地方，真正的进入都显得艰难，甚至有些危险。因为这些场所，常常也是权力的鏖战之地，交织着各种各样，如拆迁、赔偿和房、地产权等，所谓敏感问题。要么是当地受影响的人，不想引来麻烦，不愿与我们多谈；要么就是穿着便服的政府公派人员，静静守候在这些地方，一看到可疑人士便赶走。我们的镜头，从一开始，就为我们引来了目光与麻烦。在未找到真正的局内人，为我们牵线搭桥，指引我们以前，我们其实是进入了现场，却又被排除在外。但无论如何，在不断调整我们的接触方式后，我们还是得以采访了一些人，收集到了些许零散的信息，并期待着下一次的尝试与“巧妙融入”，以此不断更新我们的田野调查。
In the period between February and June 2023, we embarked on two month-long expeditions to China, revisiting the urban landscapes of Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. These journeys were both enlightening and poignant, especially given that our last time in China was at the end of 2019. The transformation we witnessed was both rapid and profound, with the urban fabric of these cities undergoing significant metamorphoses.
Shanghai, in particular, bore the marks of astonishing urban renewal. Areas that were once familiar have been replaced, with many streets in the inner city now characterised by vacant edifices and bustling construction sites. One cannot traverse these urban precincts without encountering bold red banners proclaiming the virtues of urban regeneration.
What we have seen instilled in us a profound urgency; an imperative to delve deeper and understand the forces at play. This was not merely due to the erasure of familiar landscapes and memories, but also because of the challenges we faced as researchers. The relentless pace of bulldozers and urban development threatened to eclipse our research sites. Notably, several of our chosen fields– prominent urban villages in Shanghai and Shenzhen – were visibly waning, both physically and socially.
Gaining access to these sites proved challenging. Although we could enter some areas, others were strictly off-limits, particularly those earmarked for redevelopment or already under the purview of urban regeneration initiatives. In Shanghai, we encountered individuals in plain attire who seemingly held authority over these sites, curtailing our endeavours to conduct interviews, interact with locals, film, or even make casual inquiries.
No doubt these urban villages were spaces of power. Here, intricate issues, often deemed 'sensitive' – such as eviction, resettlement plans, compensation, and land and property rights – were deeply enmeshed. Without the guides of pivotal gatekeepers, we found ourselves lingering on the periphery, garnering only fragmentary insights. Nonetheless, as we continuously sought new ways of entry, it is hopeful to bring in future updates.
在2023年二月至六月期间，我们先后两次回到中国，分别在上海、深圳和广州，进行了为期总共两个月的城中村田野调查。自2019年年底以来就未回过国的我们，看到各大城市（尤其是老城区）在短短几年间的“面貌”变化，竟觉得有些酸楚，甚至有些尴尬。因为作为调研者，我们调查对象的空间在不断萎缩、甚至消失。但在感叹之余，我们也有了一些新的在地发现。
上海作为我们的第一站，其城市跟新的速度让我们大感讶异。我们原先所选定的“城中村”，不是已夷为平地，就是被围了起来，等待搬迁与拆建。所到之处，皆能看到悬挂在墙上或建筑物上的大红色横幅标语，说明城市跟新的目的与好处，宣告迁移赔偿的大好消息，又或者警告劝退任何有心阻碍城市更新进程的举动。一些深圳有名的城中村，现也变得面目全非，如曾经最大的城中村，白石洲就已经拆迁过半。虽仍有人居住，但街道已变得空空荡荡。各大街区都围上比人高的蓝色铁皮，切断了原本四通八达的小道，让人走在其中，却不知所踪。
不管是进入原本我们所选择的田野，还是试图探索新的地方，真正的进入都显得艰难，甚至有些危险。因为这些场所，常常也是权力的鏖战之地，交织着各种各样，如拆迁、赔偿和房、地产权等，所谓敏感问题。要么是当地受影响的人，不想引来麻烦，不愿与我们多谈；要么就是穿着便服的政府公派人员，静静守候在这些地方，一看到可疑人士便赶走。我们的镜头，从一开始，就为我们引来了目光与麻烦。在未找到真正的局内人，为我们牵线搭桥，指引我们以前，我们其实是进入了现场，却又被排除在外。但无论如何，在不断调整我们的接触方式后，我们还是得以采访了一些人，收集到了些许零散的信息，并期待着下一次的尝试与“巧妙融入”，以此不断更新我们的田野调查。