Mongolian Diptychs Tell of Profound Change

Mongolian photographer A Yin documented the last nomads of his home province of Inner Mongolia. The series shows how these last nomads succumbed to changing traditions due to the increasing development in China.

The photographer chose to pair two images together (diptychs): one of a person in traditional clothing and traditional environment, and another of the person in western clothing and what looks like a ‘developed’ setting. This approach helps the viewer establish the rather startling differences that happened in this nomadic culture in just a matter of years.

All the images were taken in a straightforward manner; however, for me, the pair that carries this whole series was this one:

In the first image, an Asian-looking boy is standing in front of a rudimentary wall, wearing traditional nomad clothes; he is holding a baby sheep while another is at his feet. Next to him is what seems to be a shepherd’s shaft or something of the sorts. Being in black and white, the picture has this sense of timelessness. The boy’s clothing gives us the impression that this picture was taken centuries ago. The photo next to it is one of the same boy who appears to be in a classroom. He is in totally different apparel: faded jeans, a pink tee shirt and sneakers (the epitome of western dressing) in front of a computer with an earpiece on his head. 

Pairing these images together shows us how much this kid changed at least in appearance over the course of 4 years (according to the caption). To think that this change only happened in a four-year period is astounding. We can only imagine how this boy must have changed culturally also. In a couple more generations the traditions of these nomads might be totally altered and might not even exist in its pure form anymore.

     This culture is obviously in decline. A Yin, the photographer, wants to show this declivity through this ongoing series. While the picture that I chose was evocative and spoke to me the most, I feel these photographs work better as a series because after all one picture cannot say all there is to say about a culture. The series was very moving especially after reading the photographer’s point of view on the series and his reason of doing this. A Yin is documenting a disappearing culture, his disappearing culture.

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/20/mongolian-diptychs-tell-of-profound-change/