With their backs to the camera, young schoolgirls sit and gaze out into their future in this series by photographer Weng Fen. Sitting on the Wall features faceless feminine youth who are intrigued by the city skylines of places like Hai-kou, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. As the urban landscape finds itself in a continual state of change and expansion, so do these young girls also find themselves in a transitional period of adolescence.
Fen’s project documents urban growth as it sits in direct contrast with human development. According to the project statement, “Backs to camera, and literally facing their future, the girls represent a new generation of Southern Chinese sky-scraping dwellers.” As a viewer, we are invited to gaze upon what seems to be a very private moment of reflection. The young subjects are unaware of the viewer’s presence, and we are free to create a narrative for each girl who has the journey of her adult life ahead of her.
Weng Fen’s website
via [Arpeggia]