| Waiting for Hope |
| Text and photo by Hsiao Yiu-hwa Translated by Wu Hsiao-ting |
A cat, a dog, and an old man, in a remote mountain village in China. The times are such that coastal cities in the nation are enjoying economic booms, luring people away from countryside villages such as this one. The village is located in a barren area, and no matter how hard you work to till your land, you can only lead a hand-to-mouth existence. Therefore, young people there have no choice but to leave their hometown and seek a better future in a prosperous city. Older folks are left behind to hold down the fort. With the younger people gone, an ambience of loneliness and desolation dominate the village. Sometimes people have no choice but to reconcile themselves to reality. Will things change for the better? The cat and dog don’t have a clue, and the old man remains silent. The three of them sit quietly before the old house, keeping each other company and waiting for hope to return. Zhuliu Village, Guizhou Province, China, December 27, 2008. |
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