On April 18, the six-day Fourth China International Consumer Goods Expo concluded in Hainan. This year's Consumer Expo has more than 4,000 brands from 71 countries and regions participating in the exhibition, building a professional, information-based and international trade trading platform for the world.
Today, Hainan not only has many international tourist attractions and resort facilities, but also has continuously improving transportation infrastructure and colorful international cultural exchange activities, attracting people from all over the world to travel there and even live there for a long time. Jimmy, a French photographer living in Hainan, is one of them. He fell in love with the tropical island of Hainan and witnessed the tremendous changes that have taken place in Hainan.
Wearing a beret, a retro film camera hanging around his neck, and a pair of flip-flops at his feet, French literature and art is mixed with "Hainan style". This is how Jimmy appears most of the time in media interviews and social platforms image. Why would a Frenchman come to Hainan to work as a photographer? This starts from 15 years ago, when Jimmy was still working in Hong Kong, China, and he was not doing photography work. It was just a trip that made Jimmy make the decision to move.
Jimmy: I was originally in Hong Kong, and a friend invited me to come (travel to Hainan) for 15 days. When I came here 15 years ago, Hainan was not so developed, but the first thing I felt when I arrived in Hainan was that it was very relaxing. I always tell this story, I saw some people start sleeping on the side of the road, and I thought, wow! So safe you can sleep on the roadside. The people here are quite enthusiastic. Then I said: "Okay, I'll move."
Jimmy's photography work
Jimmy, who naturally yearns for freedom and has higher pursuits, has tried many different careers. In Hainan, Jimmy finally chose to be a photographer. Moreover, he has been in Hainan for nearly 15 years, and photography has become his longest career. After work, he likes to shoot with retro film cameras, hoping to record real life through his own lens.
Jimmy: I have a film camera, which can take 10 pictures. Maybe I will take the wrong picture, maybe I will make a mistake when developing the photos, and maybe all the pictures will be zero, but I am still very happy. I think cameras are a bit too perfect now, life is not like that. Our environment becomes beautiful because our environment originally had good points, and we need to find these good points ourselves.
Jimmy's photography works
Adhering to the concept of true recording, the vegetable stalls on the streets of Hainan, the old man in Dad's tea shop, the period houses, etc. have all become precious images recorded by Jimmy with his lens. Over the years, Jimmy has basically traveled to every city and county in Hainan. Hainan provides a steady stream of inspiration for Jimmy's creations, and Jimmy has also witnessed the tremendous changes that have taken place in Hainan in the past 15 years.
Jimmy: Taking the high-speed rail is cheap and fast now. You can go anywhere (anywhere) in Hainan. (I saw) whether some people travel by motorcycle or car, there are many beautiful roads in the countryside. I have been in China for so long, I am used to Hainan and feel safe. I often say that Hainan has the convenience of the city and the comfort of the countryside.
Jimmy’s photography works
In 2023, Jimmy has a new identity, the overseas communication officer of Hainan International Communication Center.
Jimmy: I often tell them that if a foreigner helps (other) foreigners understand China and Hainan, I will always be there because I prefer this place and I also prefer the feeling of being in China. Some people ask, why have you been in China for so long? It's because I like it!
Jimmy said frankly that he hopes to record vivid life through the lens and show a real China to foreign friends.
Jimmy: I won’t show you the best things, or anything particularly new. I think I’ll start from scratch and show you what life was like. I can share life in Hainan. I don’t take photos intentionally to look good at all. I take photos of all places, many of which are relatively ordinary things and many small details. You just feel as if this place is relaxing, quiet and safe.
In recent years, with the successful holding of consumer expos in Hainan and the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port, more and more foreign-funded enterprises have settled in Hainan, and Jimmy has also felt the changes.
Jimmy: Changing tax (tax) laws, changing import ideas (policies), etc. are not such simple things. I can see that the government is really working hard (carefully), and they are really arranging this matter. . If you go to the old city of Haikou, you can see that there are many new places (construction), all for the purpose of arranging new companies to come and for the free trade port. Gradually, foreigners also asked me, how is Hainan? This didn’t exist before. I think it’s all because of the free trade port. Starting around January, companies have approached me and asked me many questions.
Jimmy’s photography work
The rapid development and changes in Hainan always make Jimmy feel fresh and there is no reason to leave. He already has plans for the future.
Jimmy: Recently I have been making videos and helping to shoot a few web dramas, and then I also write my own web dramas. I hope that the video of the story will be my own online drama, and I hope it will be made in Hainan.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. Jimmy hopes that France and China can continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation in the cultural field in the future.
Jimmy: Because you want to understand a place, you want to understand a person, you need to understand its culture, and you want to start sharing from the culture. There must be a lot of things that can be done.
| Picture provided by the respondent
