The Burden of the Journey, Guangxi 2006 by Kal Khogali

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22-JUL-2006

"Or...On the Capitalist Road"

Guangxi 2006

Canon EOS 20D
1/1000s f/3.5 at 48.0mm iso200 hide exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto

AL		02-Oct-2006 05:43
So much had been said by others. I don't know what else to add... I felt his burden too, sub-consciously reaching out to my shoulders. Especially looking at the endless winding uneven path, and knowing well the weight of a single bottle, times 48! The stream flowing with ease couldn't help to wash away his body pain. And the drinks, even if consumed, couldn't make his soul feel refreshed or engerized. It's really hard work, for better or worse...

Jennifer Zhou		24-Sep-2006 11:40
With the Creek flowing down, you made the road seems steeper and made the burden seems even more heavier.. The photo raises a question that if the coca-cola----the symbol of capitalist, is a burden or a new hope for the country... Brilliant work Kal.....:)

Guest		19-Sep-2006 01:34
Really really interesting... Unexpected for me. Thanks for sharing this. Very well done! Lucie

ruthemily		18-Sep-2006 18:18
brilliant photo and an important statement that needs making in such a powerful way as you do here. coca-cola kills the environment for product production, exploits animals for product production, burdens people with labour and its globalisation and then damages and slowly kills every consumer. yes, coca-cola can also be seen as a general symbol of capitalism, but this photo also sums up the literal damage it does with the actual products it produces and mass-markets. one day soon i hope there are warning labels on the bottles, akin to those on cigarette packets. or maybe just a photo like this.

Guest		18-Sep-2006 06:53
absolutely WOW KK...what a brilliant image that has so many subtle stories weaved into it cheers Voted!

Adalberto Tiburzi		18-Sep-2006 04:53
Smashed down by his double-weight counterbalance bar. A

Phil Douglis		17-Sep-2006 19:13
Christine hits it on the head. This is an extremely incongruous image.The ancient Chinese worker, bearing the weight of contemporary capitalist consumption (Coke and Sprite) on his back, stops to rest on an equally ancient path of stones through an Eden-like vale of green. You abstract him by shooting him from behind. This combination of incongruity and abstraction conveys the clashing of cultures and a world in economic transition. You frequently revisit this theme of contrasting the old China to the new China, Kal -- and this is one of your most expressively poignant results. Jen, who also plows the same ground in her imagery, should cherish this as well. (I will be away on a shoot with Tim May in our National Parks until the beginning of October. Talk to you later. Keep up the great work, Kal.)

Guest		17-Sep-2006 15:04
Ditto Bill ;)

Bill Harris		17-Sep-2006 14:06
It's been said below. Excellent.

Christine P. Newman		17-Sep-2006 13:08
The transportatin of Coke/Sprite with conventional means is quite "incongruous", as would say Phil. Someone has to do it. The lushness of the vegetation and the hand-made path add something interesting to this photograph.

david procter		17-Sep-2006 13:05
Where on earth is he going with the weight of the world's consumption on his shoulders? This is even more poignent given the nature of his surroundings.

Guest		17-Sep-2006 12:49
Oh this is a really great shot. For a second i wondered what he was looking at and then i saw his load and realised he is resting. This is the kind of image that will have v special meaning to you in years to come. You've captured a moment which speaks volumes about the current situation of growth thru consumerism and "chinese capitalism" as it both fuels and collides with the common people. Many ways to interpret this image, both negatively and positively but whichever way you lean, this is so good. Gmv

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