Durian

Durian is a strange fruit with strong smell and harsh spines, but in fact it is soft inside. This fruit symbolizes my family members.In this project, I try to reconstruct the life of my deceased father, and to connect it with the present life of my mom and me by taking self portraits in my father's clothes and reconstructing archive photos from his time.

Born in 1950s when China was an ally with Soviet Union, my father went to countryside to work instead of attending school for the Cultural Revolution campaign. He was grown up nothing but a gourmet and womanizer who roamed in pleasure houses. When I was 14, he planned to have a robbery at the railway station with a fake gun, unfortunately his plan didn’t work for he fainted at the station. He was sent to hospital but no one came to visit him, so he passed away a week later.

My mom is always resentful when talking about him. She had several unsuccessful relationships, and she didn’t treat me well when I was young. I also have issues in my relationships due to the past trauma in my family.

In the project, I dress as my father and reconstruct archive pictures I collected, trying to stand in his shoes, reconnecting my family bonds and learning to forgive and love.

© Guligo Jia - A self-portrait of me standing behind flying pigeons.
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A self-portrait of me standing behind flying pigeons.

© Guligo Jia - Image from the Durian photography project
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An archive photo of people taking picture in front of Tian Anmen Square. My dad was born in 1950s, and he always wants to visit Beijing where China Mao lives, but he never made it.

© Guligo Jia - Image from the Durian photography project
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My self-portrait of playing pokers. I always regard my father as a gambler, who was willing take any risk to get what he aspires for

© Guligo Jia - Image from the Durian photography project
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My self-portrait in a Karaoke house. My dad used to roam in pleasure houses. It seems that he brings a catastrophe to every women he meets.

© Guligo Jia - I dress as my dad in the woods.The roots intertwines like my family bonds
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I dress as my dad in the woods.The roots intertwines like my family bonds

© Guligo Jia - Image from the Durian photography project
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My self-portrait in a bathtub. My dad was an alcoholic, and he used to drink every day. When he was drunk, he would take my hand engaging hours long conversation with me.

© Guligo Jia - Image from the Durian photography project
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My self-portrait on a railway track. When I was 14, he planned to have a robbery at the railway station with a fake gun. Unfortunately his plan fell through for he fainted at the station. He was sent to hospital but no one came to visit him, so he passed away a week later.

© Guligo Jia - Image from the Durian photography project
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My self-portrait with butteries. I couldn't gure out why he suddenly disappeared. So I often imagine that he travelled into an unknown dimension. He used to take me to y a kite along Yangzte River

© Guligo Jia - Image from the Durian photography project
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My self-portrait with a birthday cake. He used to celebrate my birthday by making a cake for me. That's one slice of sweet memory of him.

© Guligo Jia - It's a self-portrait of me having durian. My dad and I share a durian in the same dimension.
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It's a self-portrait of me having durian. My dad and I share a durian in the same dimension.

© Guligo Jia - I dance with a lady in a ball room. He used to seek for ladies in the ball room.
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I dance with a lady in a ball room. He used to seek for ladies in the ball room.

© Guligo Jia - My family picture
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My family picture

© Guligo Jia - I lie on the ground scattered with snow.
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I lie on the ground scattered with snow.

© Guligo Jia - My dad lies on the ground scattered with snow.
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My dad lies on the ground scattered with snow.

© Guligo Jia - An archive picture of Cultural Revolution. My dad used to be among one of them when he was young.
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An archive picture of Cultural Revolution. My dad used to be among one of them when he was young.

© Guligo Jia - My "father" wait for me to show up to share the durian.
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My "father" wait for me to show up to share the durian.

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