The Mystery of Strangers

The Pool Player - Taipei 101 series

















What do you know about him?

What is he like?

What does he do well?

What can’t he do?

What are his beliefs?

These questions can never be answered satisfactory, unless you actually made some sort of contact with the stranger. It can be fun to wonder about strangers. Crazy stories can be invented about them but they won’t answer the above questions. The only way to start answering those questions is to talk to them and then, and only gradually will some of those answers reveal themselves to you.

More Taipei 101 portraits

More portraits from the Taipei 101 portrait series. These are mainly from August, so going back some time. It reminds me very much of Taiwan and I miss the warmth of the place. Wales is absolutely freezing!

The cosmetic girl with a present from King Kong, the musician














The Musician - King Kong







King Kong was the only person we interviewed that we bumped into again. Like the first time, he was sitting outside drinking beer with his band mates.















The Police Man



Things are different in Taiwan, even police men have time to help some hapless foreigners pursue their crazy projects.












The Falun Dada follower






The Falun Dada follower was, surprisingly, one of our favourite interviews.






The Artist

For the interview with the Artist, click here.

18th May Shoot

Raven and Basel looking cool and relax.

It was a hot one yesterday!!

Taipei was roasting but the people were still chilled. Yesterday was significant in that I passed the 50 mark. I'm now up to 54 strangers. I also learned some more Chinese and more about the culture in Taiwan.

Raven and Basel are friends. We talked about how Taiwanese people choose crazy English names. Raven said many people loved to choose names after animals or things they like. Raven's English was good, just as well as he didn't understand my Chinese. Basel works in the shop behind him on the picture.


Jeffery and Sonar out with their bikes. Jeffery was the 50th stranger of the project.

Jeffery is number 50! He's a very lucky guy and I'm sure being number 50 will change his life. Anyway, he and his girlfriend his 'girlfriend' Sonar (Sonja?) were walking their bikes when I met them. They seemed to be enjoying their time and were very relaxed when I took their photo.


Eric outside Family Mart

Then I met Eric, outside a Family Mart. I really confused him with my Chinese but in the end he understood what I was asking for. I'll have to review my Chinese for explaining this project.


Eric and Paint helping out for a day at the blood donor place.

Eric and Paint were the last two people I met yesterday. They were volunteering with 'give blood - Taiwan.' They were holding signs and encouraging people to donate blood. I talked with them for a while. Paint, named by his wife because he likes to draw/paint, was there with his wife and daughter, Susu. His daughter, three, is very cute. Paint, gave me some metal chopsticks to use when I eat in a restaurant. Thanks, protecting my health and the environment. Paint told me there's a movie out on this subject - does anyone know what it is called? Eric normally works at AIG (does Paint work at AIG too?), an insurance company. We talked quite a bit as his English is good and he helped explain about the 'chopstick movie.'

So ends another day in Taipei. Thanks everyone for your help.

May 12th Shoot

Chelsea was very chatty and curious. She made my day when she said that I was an artist

Hello Everyone

It was windy in Taipei City yesterday. I like it this way. Yesterday, I met five new strangers around Taipei 101 and Warner Village areas.

Chelsea was waiting for a taxi. She makes clothes for TV stars and was going to return some clothes back to the TV company. She lived in Cambridge for a year so we spoke in English. Chelsea was great to talk with and she asked lots of questions. One was 'How do you choose who to take photos, do you choose happy people or sad one etc?'

First, I look whether someone is busy or not. It's surprising how much people use mobile phones when you look! Happy or sad? I think in general I go towards happier people, simply because I feel they are more likely to say yes and also if someone is very sad, I don't think I'd know what to say to them, especially if I'm going to say that in Chinese.


Sometimes it's good to break the rules!! Taking sweets of a stranger is one of them, but only if they're sugar free. This is Julia, working as a Wrigley's promoter

Julia is promoting Wrigley's chewing gum. She was near the graffiti-ed 'Statue of Liberty' if you want some. They've set up a Wrigley's Bar, so you can sit down in comfort and chew, instead of chewing on the go.

Louise is a fellow photographer. She also has a blog, so I'm looking forward to seeing that. I'm curious what type of pictures she takes.

Louise is a fellow photographer and she was out in full force yesterday, including a tripod. I saw her later taking a photo of an 'advert', I think. Louise has a blog too.


Cindy has excellent English. She was very casual and just let me take some pictures.

Cindy had obviously shopped a lot yesterday and was taking a rest. Her English was perfect because she had lived in the States for a few years. She was very relaxed and didn't take much notice of the camera.

Grass was very much a happy chap. He made a joke about this name but I didn't get it, sorry Grass


Grass was fun to talk to. He laughed a lot and when he wasn't laughing he smiled. He made some joke about his name but I really didn't get it.

Yesterday was a short day on the streets of Taipei. I hope to get out there again today or tomorrow to meet some more 'strangers.'

May 4th Photos of 'Strangers'

Bob and Fion looking glamorous in a familiar Taipei setting, boy n girl n bike

Hello Taipei!!!

Summer has started and it's hot again, and will be for the next six months. Yesterday, I went around a new area, the area between Fuxing and Dunhua Road, with Zhongxiao to the south.

Bob and Fion were naturals in front of the camera, like models they changed their pose at will but seconds before I talked to them was an even better photo. They looked like something out of 'Rebel without a Cause' - young, glamorous, wild and confident.

George outside his designer clothes shop. George's English is really smooth and it was a pleasure talking to him

George designs clothes and owns a shop as well. He's friendly and enthusiastic, and he took me to his shop Havoc (Daan road, section one, 51 alley, no 39). The clothes have style and look wearable, the type of thing that will get you notice without you being overly conscientious. George told me that his shop doubles as an office and much of the business he does is in exports to Japan, 'China' and Europe.

George was also the first person to say that he'll put me on his blog. So a photo of me and George will be appear here very soon. Thanks George!!



Green was really surprised I asked her for her photo. I don't know why? Anyway, like the hat says - she was. Thank you

Green was to going to a shop when I stopped her. She was very surprised that I wanted her photo.

This is me, Jhang Shu Mei and Pao .... .... They insisted on getting one of me with the Buddha 'Child' in the background

Jhang Shu Mei, Pao ... ... (to be translated), and Shu Hui Lee were manning a truck with a child Buddha on it. Shu Hui Lee told me that by tipping water over the left side of the Buddha, then the right and then the left again, it will help clean my 'soul'. They are all part of a Buddhist organisation (BLIA ?), which is having a series of events until the 9th May, around Sogo on Zhongxiao Dong Road and Fuxing Nan Road (section 1).

They were very cheerful and it was fun learning about how to clean my soul. Though I'm not sure whether I should have 'prayed' at the same time.


Shui Hui Lee, Pao ... ... and Jhang Shu Mei. Shui Hui Lee is pouring water over Buddha





Wang, Ko Wei and Woan, Ze Iunn, Wang, Ko Wei looks very cheeky in this picture. Perhaps it's because he's a photographer too and doesn't like to be in front of the camera. Great Smile Woan, Ze Iunn!!!

I met Wang, Ko Wei and Woan, Ze Iunn on the way home. Wang, Ko Wei was very funny as he didn't look relax at first and then he look away from the camera, like a naughty boy with a private joke. He had a camera, so I think he prefers to take pictures - What's the camera Wang, Ko Wei? Woan, Ze Iunn was a great model with a superstar smile.

Hugo and Flower were relaxing in the back streets. Hugo's very confident and I think this comes across in his picture. I think Flower prefers her Chinese name

Hugo and Flower were the last stangers of the day. They asked whether I wanted English or Chinese names. I feel that Chinese names would be better but I'm finding it difficult to know how to write them. So I asked for English names, which I think Flower felt sad about.

Thanks again to everyone.

April 30th Photo Shooting

First couple of the day! They remain nameless at the moment because I didn't ask them

Hi,

After some positive encouragements from friends about the blog, I decided to go out again today. This time I went back to the area between Dunhua Nan road (section 1) and Zhongxiao East Road. The weather was great today, blue skies and a big hot sun.


Smily Vicky and her mysterious friend.

The sun brought out a lot of couples, smiles and good moods, so it was fairly easy to persuade people to have their photos taken today.

I meet a sweet couple first but as I was too keen to get started I didn't get around to asking their names. It would be great if you can tell me.

Hip couple, Sky and Lin

After that, I met Vicky and the girl with no name. They were meeting their boyfriends (I guess they're your boyfriends, yeah?), who were waiting for them on scooters.

I ran into Sky and Lin, then Ken, but didn't have chance to find out much about them.

Then I met a worker from Vicious Circle but he didn't want his photo taken as he was working, which I thought was very un-punk of him. Still, he had time to tell me that something was happening tonight at Vicious Circle and there'll be plenty of people to take photos of. It kicks off at 8 ish, if anyone is interested.

John's personality certainly matched today's weather, sunny and lively. He's from Hong Kong but is often in Taipei buying computer components.

John is over from Hong Kong on business. He was with his girlfriend but she didn't want to be photographed. He said that he's often in Taipei buying computer parts. He seemed in his element today with the good weather.



This is Ken. He likes music, what type I don't as my Chinese wasn't good enough to find out.


This is Ju. He owns Classic, a designer clothes shop. He also designs clothes. I think he also DJs

Ju is the owner of Classic, a designer clothes shop on Dunhua Nan Road, section 1, 187 alley, no 63. He also designs clothes and I think he DJs, I'm not sure because we were talking in Chinese. Next month, there'll be a party at Huashan were he will be DJing. When I took his photo, he seemed a little nervous but he's actually very different when you talk with him. He's much more out going and chatty.


Playful Shu Hwa and Ken Tzu (sounds like Gen). Shu Hwa has the best type of camera - a Canon


Shuhwa and Kentzu (Gencu - Pinyin?) were shopping. Shuhwa was a natural in front of the camera and played around alot. They complimented my Chinese, which was very kind of them.

Thanks everyone for your time today. It was a great day for meeting strangers. Take care and perhaps we'll meet again sometime in the future

Cheers

Chris

April 29th Second Photo Session

Hucker is great, he understands my Chinese. He's also an electrical technician at Eslite

Good Evening Taipei!!!

Welcome to the second day of photos for 100 Strangers. Today, I met 11 well dressed new 'strangers' around Taipei City Hall and 101 areas. I learned a bit more about Taiwanese culture as well as sharing some cool moments together.


The wonderfully named 'Weekend'. He's a air con engineer at Eslite

I met Hucker, Weekend and Chang first. They were burning golden money for Digong, the land God. He owns the land that Eslite is built on and they burn money for him twice a month.

I asked Chang "If you don't burn money will Digong get angry"
Chang said "No, the gods are nice. I burn money because it makes my heart feel good."

The handsome Mr Chang, who works as an electrical technician at Eslite.

Chang and Weekend also explained to me about silver money. I thought this was only for the family but they said that burning silver money is not only for the family but for all ghosts (people who have died and are buried, I think).

My girlfriend used to get angry with me because whenever I saw people at temples burning money, I said that they were burning ghost money but she would always correct me and say that it's for the gods. So thanks to Chang, Weekend and Hucker, I now know a little more about burning money.

Business woman, near 101. We only spoke in Chinese, so it was a bit confusing

After that, I wandered up to Taipei 101. I briefly met a business woman, I took her photo but I didn't get her name. Then I met Vivian and Janin, who are from Hong Kong. They were loaded down with shopping bags, yet they were both in high spirits. When they said they weren't from here, I expected them to say they were from America because of their Engish.

Janin and Vivian are from Hong Kong. Today they shopped and they looked very happy for that. They both speak excellent English


Wayne and his 'gift' from me. Wayne is a student fashion designer and likes to design clothes for men. He's also has excellent English and is very chatty

After, I went back to Eslite and met Wayne, River and Odin. Wayne did most of the talking. He's a fashion designer and is a lucky boy as he's going to Milan this summer for a whole month.

This is 'Odin', looking very handsome and strong. He's a business student and works in Eslite too

Wayne, it'll be great if you could add a link to your fashion work. He showed me his ideas book, which had some very well sketched models wearing glamorous clothes. He told me that most of his designs are for men.

This is River (great name!!), looking cute. She is a business student and she works on B1 floor at Eslite

Finally, I met Nicola. This time I had to use my Chinese, which was good enough for Nicola to understand. She then took me to the shop she works for and introduced me to her friend/colleague.

Smiling Nicola, outside Eslite, she works at a jewellery store on the ground floor of Eslite


Nicola and friend (name?) working at a shop in Eslite

So that was the second day and I've now meet 19 new people all together. I found it easier to meet groups of twos and threes this time.

It was really good, once I've got my guts together and went up to people. My Chinese is still not good enough to find out much about people and I'd like to work on that.

Time to go. Perhaps, we'll meet again. Actually, the people working at Eslite, it's more than probable as I go there quite often.

Thanks again everyone!!

April 21st First Day of Photos

100 Strangers to Friends has finally started and a huge thanks to the eight charming 'strangers' who let me take their photos today.

Mandy's Number One - the first ever 'stranger' in this project

I went down to the area by Zhongxiao Dong Road and Dunhua Road. The people here were certainly well dressed and trendy. I love this area as the shops remind me of London.








Richie and Friend - originally Richie didn't feel ready for the camera but he was much better dressed then me.

Thanks to those who put up with my Chinese and thanks to those who realise their English is much better than my Chinese. I had fun and I hope you enjoyed the moment too.

I was nervous and a bit shy but I should've known better. Taiwanese are almost always very helpful and open.

Erin and Kai managed to identify that I'm from the UK. I thought I'd lost my British accent. Kai, do you play guitar in a band?

Strangely enough, I talked most to someone I didn't take a photo of, though he took a photo of me. This guy works for Channel 95 (channel V) and was co-ordinating an on location shoot. It seemed a lot to organise and I wasn't sure what they were shooting, though they had lots of models with them. This guy loved languages, he already knowns English, Japanese and now he's learning Korean.

This is a model for channel 95 (or channel V)
















Girl who was waiting for her friend

This was the first day and I know I could've done things better. Like, I don't know the names of everyone I met today. I'll do better next time.












Friend of the girl above

I hope you enjoyed the gifts. I hope in the future that as the project develops, the gifts will get bigger. I also want to add an event, so that I'll be able to give people a printout of their picture. I thinking about how to do this at the moment. Any suggestions are welcome.

Chris