uncommons

The Uighur section of Gulgia is patrolled by columns of military and police, photographs copyright David Degner and used by permission.

Despite the six thousand-ish unopened aphotoaday listserv emails weighing down the mailbox, I managed to stumble upon Florida-based David Degner’s essay of the Uighurs in Xingjiang, China. The gritty black and white photographs — from Fuji Neopan black & white film –  communicates a timeless quality to the plight of the Uighurs, one of a group of fifty-five ethnic minorities who are facing an identity crisis as the Chinese government “cements its hold on the region.”

“I knew the Olympics would be an ideal time for their separatist movements in Xinjiang to make a statement.  So, when my internship ended [at the St. Petersburg Times]… I flew to Beijing and took the long route to Xinjiang.  I lived there for about 6 months learning the language and exploring the oasis towns.  As the Olympics approached there were rumors of arrests, crackdowns, and protests. While confirming one of these rumors of a protest in a small village the police picked me up and kicked me out into Kazakhstan.”

Guns are illegal throughout China but especially in Tibet and Xinjiang. Two attackers in Kashgar reportedly used handmade guns in an attack against police before the Olympics.

While I believe the use of black and white film gives the style a certain photographic purity, Degner had a pretty good reason for the use of Neopan — which he admits was the cheapest to obtain and use for the project.

“I shot film because it fit the pace and logistics of the essay.  I wanted to return with a cohesive essay not with a bunch of spot news, film kept me from getting distracted.  Also, I thought if I used black and white film there would be no way the police could see my pictures. But I learned that even in the rural town of Yili the police had their own dark-room with expired chemicals.”

It’s unfortunate that Degner was escorted out of China, because the work is full of potential and ripe for more in-depth study. Here is the link to his collection and his overall work for you.

A Muslim Uighur prays at home, which is illegal in Xinjiang.