The Corner where the Cleaning Aunt Rests — Yan Jiacheng

清洁工人的休息角落（2024-now）
The Corner where the Cleaning Aunt Rests

In numerous residential areas and office buildings, there is often an alarming lack of designated rest areas for cleaning workers, the majority of whom are women. Their basic needs are frequently overlooked and ignored, compelling them to seek out small, inconspicuous corners just to get a moment’s rest. These makeshift resting spots are often furnished with discarded chairs, serving as poignant symbols of their neglected presence and undervalued labor. This stark reality underscores the challenging conditions under which they work and rest, often in the shadows of the very spaces they strive to keep clean.
Motivated by this profound neglect, I have decided to center my photographic project on these overlooked corners. Through my lens, I aim to shed light on the everyday lives of these diligent workers who struggle to find a brief respite amidst their demanding responsibilities. My photographs endeavor to capture not just the physical spaces but also the emotional and social dimensions of their experience. By highlighting their plight through visual storytelling, I hope to raise awareness and encourage a more inclusive approach to designing workspaces that respect and meet the needs of everyone, especially those often relegated to the background.