Home»BEYOND BORDERS»Asia»CHINA»CANTON A selection of photographs from CANTON (published 1987)

Canton, by Brenda Turnnidge was published in 1987, largely due to a crowdfunding campaign, although it wasn’t called that at the time. If the book exists and if I’m a photographer today, it is also mainly thanks to the then Asia 2000 editor, Charles Goodard’s hard work, dedication and belief in me. My Canton dream became a published reality. Together with a group of fiends we started up our own company, Interlines Developments Ltd and went into partnership with Asia 2000 and China Guides in Hong Kong. The photographs were taken at a time of great change in China, following Deng Xiao Ping’s open-door policy, It was 1983-1984 and I was working at Zhongshan University’s newly opened Management faculty. Thanks also to Saundra, to Philippe who never stopped encouraging me & with whom I stayed once my contract was over. To Patricia, to Anita for their precious support, to Alison, Chris, Wai-Ping, Tillotson, to my Canton neighbours Ona & Sophie, to Chiew, to artists Yuan Hao & Zhang Wen & of course to my students without whom I’d never had gone to Canton at that particular point in history. These photos witness the early transformation of the Pearl river megapolis. The rest is history.