921 Earthquake –
A Photographer Returns to Chungliao

Shen, Chao-Liang


In July of 2000,ten months after the September 21 earthquake, I returned to Chungliao Rural Township to visit people I had tried to help at the time of the quake. I wanted to see how they were doing today, having survived a disaster of that magnitude. Meeting with these friends moved me in a way that I haven't felt in a long time. When the earthquake struck, while non-governmental financial and manpower resources poured into the earthquake zone, I asked myself: What can I, as a member of the greater community sharing a common fate, do to help?

After many days of consideration, my wife and I decided to hearken back to the initial motivation for the invention of photography, and take free ID photos for people who lost all their personal documents in the quake, thereby doing what I could as a photographer. In Chungliao Rural Township, where most of the people are farmers, 90% of the homes were destroyed and more than 170 people were killed. I arrived the 12th day after the disaster, and saw earthmovers and cranes relentlessly shovelling away the shattered ruins of truncated dreams.

In two days of taking photos, I saw many faces which showed lingering fear and deep sadness. People tried, hard though it was, to squeeze out a feeble smile for the camera. Occasionally we exchanged a few remarks, such as this request from a young girl: "Could you make it so that the injury on my forehead doesn't show?" Or, from an old man who insisted on changing into a clean shirt: "This might be the last picture taken of me in my life..." Every face was burned not only onto the film, but into my heart.

Ten months later, I returned, carrying negatives of the photos with me. With the help of a policeman, I tried to find local residents. Near the Chungliao Primary School, outside of a home there hung a sign reading "family haircuts." In the house, when I showed my ID, Li Chung-shun, the owner of the establishment, suddenly realized who I was. Nodding his head and pointing at the top picture, he said: "These are the ones! We all have been using them. Back then we were so confused, and couldn't keep track of everything. I really want to thank you for helping take care of this for us."

Compared to huge monetary contributions and long-term care provided by others, taking a few photographs was not much of a task. In the face of such gratitude, I was at a loss. But seeing as how these photos were of some help, I not only felt gratified and moved, but felt tears welling up in my eyes.

 

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