Explore the powerful photographic series China in het voorbijgaan and its accompanying book, published in 1993 by Focus Publishing. This collection is the result of five photography trips through China between 1985 and 1991, documenting the country’s dramatic transformation during a pivotal period in its history.

The journey began even earlier, with a world trip in 1983, starting in Australia and culminating in a ‘Trans Mongolian’ adventure from Beijing through Mongolia and Russia to Arnhem.

Pieter Griffioen shares, “I initially traveled solo, but was unable to photograph in certain locations like factories and hospitals. Later trips were made possible through collaboration with the Friendship Association of the Netherlands and China, who facilitated a program I proposed after securing permission from the Chinese Friendship Association. Often, permission was revoked on the spot, requiring a flexible plan B. These trips spanned crucial historical moments, such as the violent suppression of the Tiananmen Square protests and the fall of the Berlin Wall—events that left their mark on the landscape and the people I photographed.”

Griffioen reflects on the insights gained through the ‘Trans-Mongolian’ train journeys, noting the stark contrast in development between the countries visited. Over the decades, China has rapidly modernized, adding profound historical value to these photographs.

Today, China in het voorbijgaan stands as an invaluable testament to China’s dynamic evolution, capturing moments that are now part of the country’s history.