富饶 Fertile

The name "Fertile" reflects the abundant colors of life we encountered while talking to a range of individuals, including a former US Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank, an architect, a sustainability advocate and entrepreneur, a photographer and journalist, a teacher, a restaurant owner, and a film director and screenwriter. Our series explores real stories of people in China, unfiltered, with each episode bringing a unique perspective on what makes a life full.

We screened the first episode, "Yangshuo, Guilin", at the Shenzhen Hong Kong Biennale. The story follows a family of three as they live between the city and the mountains, searching for meaning and identity in the face of China's rapid urbanization.
A Hui, the father of the family, discussed the generational traumas that he and his family endured from the drastic changes, and spoke candidly about the obstacles that they had to overcome. Despite the challenges, A Hui found a sense of purpose and belonging in the world. He gave everything he had to ensure his son's future success, hoping that he would become a beacon of love and light in the world.

Our first episode premiered at the 2022 HK SZ Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism and Architecture, hosted in a 300-year-old village that has become mostly empty as young people flock to the cities. We managed to transform an old house filled with generations of memories into a cozy screening room. There, A Hui opened up about his life and the toll that these sweeping conversion have taken on him. He emphasized the need for better communication and understanding between urban and rural areas, as well as the importance of reviving the left-behind lands and people.