The project is based on the vanishing ancient seaweed houses in China. The roof of the seaweed houses requires seaweed that is grown on the seabed about 5-10 meters in depth. The shape of the roof is like a boat that is high, steep, and low in the middle. Due to the unique style, the seaweed houses are considered one of the most typical cultural heritage in China. However, according to the government investigation, more than eighty percent of seaweed houses have disappeared due to the urbanization and industrialization. The situation of demolition and construction of seaweed houses became a context and content for this project. “Once There Was…†is exploring memory and landscape through the hand coloring of photography that are embedded in the time and space, imagination and personal identity. During these years, I witness that the seaweed houses were pulling down every day and modern buildings or manufactories were building up every year. When I walked around the seaweed houses, the changes of seaweed houses aroused my personal imagination, nostalgia, and meditation. I could not suppress but to connect the past with the present: “Once there was a house. But now it is demolished.†“Once there was a family. But now it is empty.†“Once there was an alley. But not it is filled with weeds.†I felt that I could trace back to the time and space of the past, and I wanted to experience and touch these changes and stories. Therefore, I produced the black and white silver prints in the darkroom and began to hand color them by imagination and personal memory. Also, I leave a blank space of color to the audiences. “Once there was…†can be interpreted and finished the sentence by the audiences’ imagination.
