Bada Hutong
Bada Hutong, which literally means the "eight great" hutongs, consists of Baishun, Yanzhi, Hanjia, Shaaxixiang, Shitou, Wangguangfuxiejie, Zhujia, Lishamao and several other hutongs. They are situated closely around the bustling Dashila area of Xicheng District.
During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Bada Hutong was notorious as the city's biggest "red light district", housing more than 2,000 brothels. The structure of each brothel varied, and all were different from ordinary houses. After 1949, many brothels were turned into hotels and/or residences.
This volume contains 80 full-color photographs which chronicle a four-year journey of exploration through some of the oldest neighborhoods in Beijing, China. With a photographic process of long exposures ranging from twenty-five minutes to four hours, the people are predominantly lost. The images are of a way of life all but rubble to the modernization of China's capital city. Hutongs are the ancient Chinese communities built hundreds of years ago that now rest in the middle of the urban sprawl. Tight streets, communal bathrooms, and a poor water supply are balanced by an incredible sense of community & a peaceful way of life. Most of the dwellings depicted in this book have been destroyed in preparation for the 2008 Olympics. Paul Duda received his BFA in photography from Penn State University and an MFA from Pratt Institute in NYC. He has taught for the past 14 years at the Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven, CT and has lectured about his work at numerous universities. Paul Duda owns and operates Studio Duda Photography, a commercial photographic studio & fine art gallery in New Haven, CT. With over 50 gallery shows, including OK Harris in NYC, Duda's work includes studies in more than 20 countries. www.studioduda.com
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