1990's Peking by Kazuo Kitai is a compelling photographic journey through Beijing during one of the most significant periods of its recent history. Created throughout the 1990s, the project documents a city on the verge of dramatic transformation, preserving the atmosphere, architecture and everyday life that would soon disappear beneath the rapid pace of modernization.
Rather than concentrating on famous landmarks or political events, Kitai directs his attention toward the ordinary rhythms of the city. His camera wanders through narrow hutongs, bustling markets, public parks and residential streets, capturing moments that reveal the quiet dignity of daily life. The photographs are rich in observation, portraying workers, families, cyclists and passersby with remarkable empathy and restraint.
Born in China before returning to Japan with his family, Kitai approaches Beijing with a perspective that feels both intimate and reflective. His photographs avoid spectacle, instead embracing the subtle beauty of fleeting encounters, familiar gestures and overlooked corners of the city. This understated approach allows the viewer to experience Beijing through a deeply human lens, where history unfolds naturally within everyday scenes.
The sequencing of the book mirrors the experience of walking through the city itself. Each photograph flows effortlessly into the next, creating a visual narrative that invites slow and attentive viewing. There is no sense of urgency or dramatic storytelling. Instead, Kitai allows the character of Beijing to emerge through atmosphere, rhythm and careful observation.
Printed in a generous large-format hardcover edition, 1990's Peking presents the photographs with exceptional clarity and tonal richness. The elegant design enhances the contemplative nature of the work, encouraging readers to spend time with each image and appreciate its subtle details.
More than a documentary record of a changing capital, 1990's Peking is a meditation on memory, identity and the passage of time. It preserves the spirit of a city at a decisive historical moment while demonstrating Kazuo Kitai's extraordinary ability to transform everyday life into timeless photography. It remains one of his most accomplished and poetic photobooks, offering an intimate portrait of Beijing before its urban landscape was irrevocably transformed.