Hiroshi Hamaya - Urumchi - 1957

Hiroshi Hamaya’s "Urumchi" from 1957 is a significant photographic record documenting the city of Urumqi (also spelled Urumchi), the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China. Hamaya, known for his ethnographic and documentary photography, captured aspects of daily life, culture, and the landscape in this culturally diverse region. The book provides a visual exploration of a lesser-photographed area during the mid-20th century, illustrating both traditional lifestyles and the impact of modernization. Hamaya’s work often serves anthropological and artistic purposes, and "Urumchi" stands as a valuable historical artifact reflecting cross-border cultural perspectives during the postwar era.