TITLE: Shehuo.shanxi

Shehuo is an ancient folk art form that originated from the farming civilization in northern China. It is a manifestation of natural worship of the gods of land and fire.
It was originally intended to worship the gods of land and fire and express awe and gratitude to nature. Over time, Shehuo has gradually evolved into a performance activity to celebrate festivals, pray for a good harvest and eliminate disasters.
In early 2024, I went alone to Baoji, Shaanxi, China to record this grand event. This is one of the most representative areas of Shehuo culture in the north.

For more than a week, I witnessed an annual Chinese-style Halloween carnival during the Spring Festival.

The actors participating in the annual Shehuo are almost all amateurs. Most of them usually work in the city or farm in their hometown. Only during the Spring Festival every year, when they put on their performance costumes, they appear in the fields, streets, villages and towns like the heavenly soldiers and generals in historical stories...

With the continuous advancement of China's urbanization process, a large number of rural populations have completed regional transformation, and the new generation of young people have gradually faded this ancient way of sacrificial performance. They may find more pleasure and expression on the Internet. Today's Shehuo Fire has slowly lost its meaning of worship and is more like a novel "New Year Carnival".

AUTHOR: 宇 胡 (China)

Hu Yu
1971.4.24 Born
Originally from Sichuan

Graduated from Beijing Film Academy, majoring in Photo Photography, in 2003.

2003-2022, Commercial Portrait Photographer, Beijing

2022-2023, Concentrate in Contemporary Art Photography