Saturday July 1, 2006, Beidaihe, Hebei, China

Beidaihe Chinese beach

Beidaihe on the Bohai Sea 280 kilometers east of Beijing, is North China's most famous seaside resort. Every year from June to September some five million tourists, mostly Chinese but including foreign, some who live in China but host of them from eastern Russia, pass through for sun and sand. Crowds walk or drive hired bicycle along the main streets and the promenade. Heading to the sea, while there is space on roped-off, private beaches, several of them restricted to guests of adjacent hotels, the public beach is packed. People in outsize trunks and frilly one-piece costumes, beach-goers bounced over waves on airbeds and inner tubes, or just splashed in the cooling water. Beidaihe once was a famous resort for Chinese leadership. It was the former summer home of Lin Biao, the army leader who died in mysterious circumstances in 1971 after apparently trying to stage a coup against Chairman Mao Zedong. Beidaihe's resurgence began again after Deng took control of China in 1978, since than China's senior leaders slip away to Beidaihe on the Bohai coast to escape the heat of Beijing and plot strategy for the coming year. Still now there are houses of important Chinese party leader, but since Mr. Hu gained the power it's not anymore the place were the leaders use to met each other informal. *** Local Caption *** A Russian-Chinese festival organized to celebrate the friendship between the two country, and the thousands of tourists that every year visit the town.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Tuesday September 21, 2004, Beijing, China

Champion sports school

Training in Shichahai Sport School. Founded by Beijing municipality in 1958. The younger students are 5 years old, the older 19. The school offers 9 disciplines. In the last Olympic Games, 5 students won gold medals: ping pong, TaekWondo, volleyball, pommel horse, gymnastic.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Wednesday January 21, 2009, Sofia, Bulgaria

Corruption and hard times spark movement in Bulgaria

Considered the poorest nation in the European Union, Bulgaria is also perhaps the most corrupt. This Summer, in a bid to cut off funds from freewheeling criminals who engage in white collar crime and maintain links to the highest reaches of power, the European Union froze nearly 500-million-euros worth of Bulgarian assets. The decision reflected concern among diplomats and fraud investigators over Bulgaria's ability to prevent the money from being siphoned off by organized crime. The effect has been hard on business owners and farmers in need of subsidy money and the actions have sparked recent protests in the capital of Sofia. Demonstrators are demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Mikhail Mikov as well as the abolishment of a requirement for at least 700,000 signatures for the initiation of referendums.

More than 1,000 Bulgarians gathered in front of the Bulgarian Parliament for a protest rally organized by college students, young mothers, milk and grain producers, and environmentalists. Instead of facing, the Parliamentary building, however, this time the protesters have turned their backs to it as a way of expressing their disapproval of the government and the MPs. Here, a demonstrator holds a photo of Vladimir Putin.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Sunday October 10, 2004, Shanghai, Shanghai, China

Shanghai ruins: the price of the development

The fast developments of the city leave temporary traces that disappear just as quickly to make room for new skyscrapers. Lujianzui area, in the financial center of Pudong, is no more than 15 years old, but already show signs of age. The land value is attracting something more than just two story restaurants.

A worker.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Saturday November 28, 2009, Kashgar, Xingjiang, China

Historic Kashgar fades as the Chinese redevelop

The ancient Silk Road trading hub of Kashgar is being threatened by a Chinese government redevelopment plan that some say has a hidden political agenda. Located in China's northwest Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Kashgar's old city has survived for centuries, and remains an important Islamic cultural center for the Uyghurs, the Turkic ethnic group living in Xinjiang. Two-thirds of the old city will be bulldozed in the next few weeks under the government plan to "modernize" the area. City officials have been moving a number of families out of the city center, saying they need to rebuild old, dangerous houses and improve the infrastructure. In total, the government says it plans to renovate or reconstruct more than 5 million square meters of old homes and resettle some 45,000 households. The densely packed houses and narrow lanes of old Kashgar are the best-preserved examples of a traditional Islamic city. Some Uighurs argue that the demolition is part of an orchestrated campaign by the Chinese government to destroy Uighur culture.

A butcher follows the cleaning procedure of a sacrificed animal in a private home

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Friday July 3, 2009, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

Tollywood

The Telugu film industry is the second biggest film industry (sometimes called Tollywood) based in Hyderabad. Telugu is the second largest spoken language in India. Second to Bollywood, more movies are produced here every year in Telugu as in any other language. The Ramoji Film City, founded by Cherukuri Ramoji Rao, an Indian businessman and media entrepreneur, has what is claimed to be the largest film studio in the world. Film City opened in 1996 and is spread over 2,000 acres of land studded with hills, valleys and lakes. It parallels as both a tourist attraction and major film-making facility. The city includes massive buildings, gardens and other sets suitable for filming movies. Inside the city are complete facilities for pre-production, production and post-production work on movies. In addition, there are rides and other attractions and opportunities for shopping and dining. There are three hotels inside the city catering to various budgets and travelers can easily spend a weekend or more with their families and not tire of the spectacle. The Telugu film industry has not been hit by the recession. For many, films are a part of their culture. Despite the fact that ticket rates have gone up, people are still flocking theaters and often the Indians of Andhra Pradesh go to the theater three times or more a week.

Actor Vineel Arrjum and actress Rrishitha on set of the film "Fenicol"

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Wednesday October 8, 2008, Beijing, China

Beijing

The National Grand theatre.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Friday April 17, 2009, Odessa, Ukraine

Odessa street kids

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, many poor families moved from the countryside to Odessa in the hope of finding work. Their children are often left to themselves. The best estimates say that more than 100,000 children now live on the streets of Ukraine. They beg, steal, and become prostitutes. Drug use is rampant. For those looking to change their lives, the non-governmental organization 'The Way Home', in partnership with UNICEF, and 'This Child Here' bring medical aid, clothes, food and hope through outreach conducted by street teams.

Sasha has lost his leg in a tram as he was fighting with another gang of street kids. During a patrol with the 'Way Home' staff and Bob Gamble of 'This Child Here', was purchased the new crutches for Sasha because his had been broken. The new crutches will be stolen soon. Then both Sasha and Rome will decide to join in 'Way Home' and no longer live on the street. The house where Roma and Sasha live.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Friday September 8, 2006, Beijing, Beijing, China

Tiananmen square. A bride and a groom joking close the portrait of Chairman Mao Zedong.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Sunday June 15, 2008, Beihai, Guangxi, China

Luigi Colani designer

Luigi Colani, born in Berlin, 1928, is a German industrial designer, famous for unconventional designs both in design circles and to the general public. He has produced consumer products of highly practical and long lasting. His Canon T90 won awards and established the look of many future ergonomic cameras. He has been recruited by China to work on the 2008 Olympics and to teach at Tongji University in Shanghai. Colani's Manifesto: "I am not a designer," Mr. Colani said "I am a three-dimensional philosopher of the future." or "The earth is round, all the heavenly bodies are round; they all move on round or elliptical orbits. This same image of circular globe-shaped mini worlds orbiting around each other follows us right down to the microcosm. We are even aroused by round forms in species propagation related eroticism. Why should I join the straying mass who want to make everything angular? I am going to pursue Galileo Galilei's philosophy: my world is also round."

Luigi Colani

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Tuesday April 8, 2008, Hong Kong, China

China's contemporary art market

An explosion in China's contemporary art scene has received the notice of the world's major auction houses. In 1994 China's Guardian Auction House generated less than 2 million Chinese RMB at its first art auction. The same house brought in hundreds of millions RMB at a 2006 art auction. Chinese newcomer Poly International Auction House also generated huge sales after its founding in 2005. With Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Hong Kong now major gallery centers, and a hands off approach by the Chinese government, auction houses such as the famed Sotheby's have joined the trend. Last year Sotheby's sold nearly 200 million USD in contemporary Asian art at a Hong Kong Auction and will hold a major Auction of Chinese work in New York this year.

Bidders at Sotheby's Spring Auction. Evelyn Lin, Head of the Contemporary Chinese Art Department, Sotheby's China and Southeast Asia, at the Sotheby's auction says, "We're delighted with the results of today's sale, which clearly demonstrates the continuing strength in the market for Chinese Contemporary Art. Further, our results show a market which is gaining in sophistication as collectors move beyond paintings and sculpture to categories such as video and installation works. There was robust competition from across Asia but we saw international bidding and buying at all levels of the market as well." A painting by Chinese contemporary artist Zhang Xiaogang, "Bloodline: The Big Family No. 3" , sold for a record (US$ 6million), while another top lot, by Guo Bochuan, fell short of a presale price estimate at Sotheby's Hong Kong auction as Asia's stock-market drop prompted buyers to choose established artists over lesser-known ones.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Saturday October 11, 2008, Beijing, China

Beijing

The Olympic park in the Chinese capital reopen to Beijing citizens after the games, they are are free to enter into the common area of the park, otherwise called Olympic Green, but they still need to buy tickets for the National Stadium, or Bird's Nest, and the Water Cube, two major Olympic venues.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Wednesday March 5, 2008, Zaragoza, Spain

Spain prepares for Zaragoza Expo 2008

Zaragoza was never a favorite among foreign tourists. As such, local officials hope Expo 2008 will serve to provide a boost to tourism industry. Organizers expect the event, from June 14 to September 14, 2008, will attract more than five-million visitors to an exposition with a theme sure to draw attention given the recent focus on global climate change: "Water and Sustainable Development." The event is set to take place on the banks of the Ebro River, where the exhibition's most emblematic buildings will be the "Water Tower," a 76-meter-high transparent building designed to evoke a drop of water, Zaha Hadid's "Bridge Pavilion," a 270-meter-long covered bridge crossing the river, and the "River Aquarium," which will be the biggest freshwater aquarium in Europe.

Spain's largest baroque church and an important pilgrimage site. According to legend, the Virgin Mary used a pillar here as a conduit between heaven and earth in order to appear before Saint James the apostle. Pilgrims touch the pillar in the holy chapel for blessings

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Tuesday April 10, 2007, Beijing, China

Artist Zhang Xiaogang in his studio

Zhang Xiaogang (born 1958) is a contemporary Chinese symbolist/surrealist painter, well known for his "Bloodline" series of paintings, which are haunting, often monochromatic, slightly stylized portraits of Chinese people, usually with large, dark-pupiled eyes, posed in a stiff manner deliberately reminiscent of family portraits from the 1950s and 60s. In late March 2006, Zhang's work "Bloodline Series: Comrade No 120" sold for US$979,200 at a New York auction, almost certainly an all-time record for a piece by a modern Chinese artist.

Zhang Xiaogang in his studio.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Tuesday February 21, 2006, Berlin, Germany

Cosmopolitan Berlin

A united Germany's capital since 1999, Berlin has evolved into a cosmopolitan city to rival both London and Paris. Following World War II and the fall of the Nazi regime, Berlin became a divided city, partitioned into British, French and American zones in the west, and a Soviet zone to the east. The western zones gradually merged into West Berlin while the eastern zone continued to fall under Soviet rule. Following the collapse of the Berlin wall in 1989, the city's two haves were re-united and eventually became Germany's capital, yet again.

Germany's Central Holocaust Memorial Site.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Thursday June 18, 2009, Kashgar, Xingjang, China

China to demolish historic Kashgar

The ancient Silk Road trading hub of Kashgar is being threatened by a Chinese government redevelopment plan that some say has a hidden political agenda. Located in China's northwest Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Kashgar's old city has survived for centuries, and remains an important Islamic cultural center for the Uyghurs, the Turkic ethnic group living in Xinjiang. Two-thirds of the old city will be bulldozed in the next few weeks under the government plan to "modernize" the area. City officials have been moving a number of families out of the city center, saying they need to rebuild old, dangerous houses and improve the infrastructure. In total, the government says it plans to renovate or reconstruct more than 5 million square meters of old homes and resettle some 45,000 households. The densely packed houses and narrow lanes of old Kashgar are the best-preserved examples of a traditional Islamic city. Some Uighurs argue that the demolition is part of an orchestrated campaign by the Chinese government to destroy Uighur culture.

A woman outside of her home in the alleys of the old town.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Friday May 16, 2003, Kashgar, Xinjiang, China

Kashgar, land of silent Islam

The Uyghurs are Turkic urban-dwellers and farmers who follow traditional Central Asian practice. They live mainly in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region where they are the largest ethnic group. Xinjiang", meaning "New Frontier", is the official Chinese name of the Autonomous Region. Uyghurs still refer to "Xinjiang" as East Turkistan. Modern development threatens the old traditions and cultures of the Muslim population. The Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous Region is China's largest province. Half of the 16.5 million inhabitants speak Turkic languages and practice Islam. Working Mosques are everywhere, but are strictly controlled by the Chinese authorities. Muslims working in state-owned businesses are banned from attending the mosque, under threat of dismissal. Muslims here, as in many parts of the world, view the American invasion of Iraq with great hostility. In the past decade, the Chinese authorities have poured development money into the region, but in so doing demolished tea shops and markets that are part of the Muslim culture along the old Silk Road. The Uyghurs are Turkic urban-dwellers and farmers who follow traditional Central Asian practice, distinguished from nomadic Turkic populations in Central Asia. They live mainly in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, where they are the largest ethnic group, together with Han Chinese, Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and Russians. Thousands of Uyghurs also live in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. "Xinjiang", meaning "New Frontier", is the official Chinese name of the Autonomous Region. Uyghurs still refer to "Xinjiang" as East Turkistan.

Muslim women walk near the Mao Zedong statue in People's Square.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Monday April 2, 2007, Shanghai, China

Rise in popularity of Plastic Surgery in China

In China, which had virtually no cosmetic surgery a few decades ago, now plastic surgery is a booming business. As insecurity is mounting and jobs are less available, pushed on by their parents and under pressure to do whatever it takes to get a job, more and more Chinese students are going under the knife, the SPA aren't enough anymore. A beautiful appearance seems to be one of the main topic for the new generation of students (and ordinary people) to have a bright feature. So the students start to use their holidays to sculpt their face, higher the nose, get double eyelids and inflate the breast. In such way they hope they will boost their chances of getting a good job after graduation. It's not a matter of woman only, in fact, not only women, but men of all ages and from practically every status aspire to have a better-looking face. According a survey in Beijing and Shanghai, 12% of male white-collar workers have accepted plastic surgeries, particularly on their teeth or eyes. Some 3% have even accepted major plastic surgeries.

The gate of Ren Ai Hospital.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Thursday June 4, 2009, Milan, Italy

Bruno Cova

Bruno Cova is Co-Chair of the Milan office of Paul Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP. Prior to joining the firm, he was Group General Counsel of Fiat SpA. He was also the chief legal adviser to the Commissioner appointed by the Italian government to investigate Europe's largest financial fraud at Parmalat, and deal with the restructuring of the company.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Tuesday August 12, 2008, Istanbul, Turkey

Shopping mall in Turkey

Kanyon shopping mall, designed by Arup.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Friday October 8, 2004, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

Ningbo: the second cargo harbour of China.

The Ningbo port, handling more than 180 milions tons of cargo, is the second port of China. There are more than 90 regular shipping lines for container between Ningbo port and other main ports all over the world.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Wednesday October 29, 2008, Kitakyushu, Japan

TOTO the world's largest toilet manufacturer

Founded in 1917, TOTO Ltd. is the world's largest toilet manufacturer. Currently the company has 20,000 employees, two-thirds of Japan's bathroom market, seven factories in Japan and a presence in 16 countries. TOTO has invented and patented the Washlet, an innovative toilet seat that features an integrated bidet activated at the push of a button on the seat or a remote control.

Junichi Tani, the TOTO Design Center's chief manager.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Thursday July 8, 2004, Guiyu, Shantou, Guangdong, China

E-Waste: Computer garbage

In Chaoyang county in southern Guangdong province - China's richest - whole farming families have turned into scavengers over the last decade for extra cash. For years, so called "e-waste" from richer countries has found its way to China, where armies of rural poor rummage through computer monitors, central processing units, printers, toner cartridges and other high-tech trash to sell what they can to recyclers. Plastics, metals and other recyclable materials lay in heaps everywhere, waiting to be trucked to smelters. Electronic waste can contain 1,000 different substances including lead, cadmium, chromium and mercury - heavy metals which are highly toxic. Unwanted electronic junk is seen in open rice fields everywhere, on riverbanks and in ponds, and some families in the area have stopped drinking well water because it has taken on a yellow hue. In April 2000, China specifically outlawed e-waste importation. But occasional crackdowns have done little to curtail recycling, which thrives on corruption and strong market demand.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Monday October 13, 2008, Beijing, China

Beijing

A private guard sleeps on the street.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Tuesday March 25, 2008, Beijing, China

China's contemporary art market

An explosion in China's contemporary art scene has received the notice of the world's major auction houses. In 1994 China's Guardian Auction House generated less than 2 million Chinese RMB at its first art auction. The same house brought in hundreds of millions RMB at a 2006 art auction. Chinese newcomer Poly International Auction House also generated huge sales after its founding in 2005. With Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Hong Kong now major gallery centers, and a hands off approach by the Chinese government, auction houses such as the famed Sotheby's have joined the trend. Last year Sotheby's sold nearly 200 million USD in contemporary Asian art at a Hong Kong Auction and will hold a major Auction of Chinese work in New York this year.

Michelangelo Pistoletto: "The labyrinth" at Galleria Continua

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Friday October 31, 2008, Beijing, China

Lenova Vice President Yao Ying Jia

Lenovo Vice President Yao Ying Jia was the first industrial designer hired by the computer maker. Jia's mission is to introduce innovative design concepts and set Lenovo's products apart in the Chinese and international market. Yao established the first industrial design team at Lenovo and helped establish the strategy of design innovation to help Lenovo compete in a fast-developing market. A director of China's Industrial Design Association, Yao is also a Visiting Professor at the Guangzhou College of Design and the Beijing Institute of Art and Design.

Yao Ying Jia

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Wednesday June 4, 2008, Beijing, China

Modern Beijing

China's capital city of Beijing will host this summer's Olympic games. Beijing has grown into a modern metropolis with construction booming across the city.

The glass and titanium Opera House, designed by French architect Paul Andreu, completed in 2003. Located near the Forbidden City in the heart of the capital, the theatre consists of three halls with total number of seats exceeding 6,000. The egg-shaped dome of 220 meters long, 150 meters wide, and 49 meters high, floating on an artificial lake, houses a 2,500-seat opera house, a 2,000-seat concert hall, a 1,200-seat traditional theatre.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Friday May 16, 2003, Kashgar, Xinjiang, China

Kashgar, land of silent Islam

The Uyghurs are Turkic urban-dwellers and farmers who follow traditional Central Asian practice. They live mainly in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region where they are the largest ethnic group. Xinjiang", meaning "New Frontier", is the official Chinese name of the Autonomous Region. Uyghurs still refer to "Xinjiang" as East Turkistan. Modern development threatens the old traditions and cultures of the Muslim population. The Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous Region is China's largest province. Half of the 16.5 million inhabitants speak Turkic languages and practice Islam. Working Mosques are everywhere, but are strictly controlled by the Chinese authorities. Muslims working in state-owned businesses are banned from attending the mosque, under threat of dismissal. Muslims here, as in many parts of the world, view the American invasion of Iraq with great hostility. In the past decade, the Chinese authorities have poured development money into the region, but in so doing demolished tea shops and markets that are part of the Muslim culture along the old Silk Road. The Uyghurs are Turkic urban-dwellers and farmers who follow traditional Central Asian practice, distinguished from nomadic Turkic populations in Central Asia. They live mainly in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, where they are the largest ethnic group, together with Han Chinese, Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and Russians. Thousands of Uyghurs also live in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. "Xinjiang", meaning "New Frontier", is the official Chinese name of the Autonomous Region. Uyghurs still refer to "Xinjiang" as East Turkistan.

A Muslim Uyghur boy looks at the Mao Zedong statue in People's Square.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Friday May 19, 2006, Datong, Shanxi, China

China's growing economy feeds the polluting coal industry

China's rapid economic growth has come at the cost of the environment. To meet the burgeoning economy's huge demands, China is building more coal-fired power plants the likes of this one in Datong, which emit large amounts of sulfur dioxide and other pollutants. Owing to its dependence on coal power, China is among the world's most wasteful energy users, spending 2.4 times more energy per unit of gross domestic product than the rest of the world, according to the U.N. Development Program.

Smokestacks and steam vents at the Datong Coal Energy plant at night.

Credit: Alessandro Digaetano / Polaris

Alessandro Digaetano

Portrait by Sam Emerson

Personal web site of Alessandro Digaetano