Here I was, a Dutch photographer, wishing to get inside the homes of these Chinese families, but unable to communicate with my subjects. I asked myself ‘what am I doing here?’ But my curiosity to find out more about the people and their behaviour towards me drove me to pursue my personal mission even more relentlessly. I started working with an interpreter who helped to explain who I was and what it was that I wished to do. Once this initial critical hurdle was overcome, I could communicate with my subjects, through the eyes, emotions and feelings. Soon after, I found myself blending into these people’s homes, just like in any country where I would speak the language, and capturing these moments of quiet communication with my subjects. I spent most of my time taking photographs in the rural areas of China. The daily lives were revealed through the bodies and faces of the people I met, sometimes instantly, sometimes through interaction over a period of time. It was a glimpse into each person’s private human realm. While working on this project in China, I was particularly struck by the enormous curiosity, hospitality and kindness of the families I photographed. Once inside their homes I could also feel the determination, the courage and the willpower these people possess. For them there seems to be just one way to go; forward. I recalled images of Vermeer, the 17th Century Dutch painter who has inspired my work in many places. I also saw how in their homes I could capture the spirit of these people, the quietness, the pride, the serenity, the austerity and togetherness of their lives. I now feel extremely confident regarding my subjects and find immense pleasure in visiting many villages and towns throughout China.
My gratitude naturally goes first to those Chinese families who so spontaneously and whole-heartedly opened their doors for me, invited me to sit down and to share a cup of green tea with them; I shall always remember their insatiable curiosity about me as a person, and of course their delightful and genuine hospitality.
I would also like to mention that after having exhibited my photography in The Pingyao International Photography Festival in 2004 and in 2005, I was able to make many Chinese friends, mostly photographers, from all over China. These photographers, once they came to know about my project, invited me to visit them, and accompanied me during my travels in their province, guiding me to small towns and villages to photograph the "Interiors". In particular, I am deeply grateful to the photographers like, Chen Haiwen from Shanghai, Wu Jalin from Kunming, Wang Hanbing from Xinjiang Province and Wang Zhongwen from Taiyuan, who have helped me tremendously in my project. I have travelled extensively with them to places such as Guizhou, Yunnan, Hubei, Fujian, Zhejiang, Xinjiang, Shanxi and more and have completely enjoyed their insights and deep understanding of rural China. I also wish to thank Rabobank for their support in this project. When in March 2006 I showed my first photographs of "Chinese interiors" to the China management team of Rabobank, I was met with great enthusiasm and warm encouragement. A special thank you to Ms. Elizabeth Priester, who introduced me to Rabobank and to Jean Loh, who, when I was in doubt about this project, encouraged me to go on and to never look back.
Shanghai, September 2006
通过眼神、动情和感受来交流
罗伯特·凡德·休斯特
2004年我开始着手“中国人家”这个摄影专题，此前一年我刚刚完成“古巴人家”的专题，所以相信可以将用于古巴的手法用于中国，通过在人们家中拍摄，面对他们，了解他们，根据我之所见，将他们安排在家中的不同位置。最重要的一点是，在古巴我可以跟他们说西班牙语，在短暂的时光内与他们共同相处。
但是这些招数在中国完全行不通。我不会说中文，对中国文化也知之甚少。我很快就明白我无法融入他们的生活。当我站在他们门口时，他们对我这个银头发高个子、带着照相器材的外国人流露出的种种反应让我确信：我的手法是不管用的。来到他们门前我觉得自己与他们存在着鸿沟。此时此地我是一个荷兰摄影师，虽想进入这些中国家庭却不能与拍摄对象交流。我问自己，“我在这里究竟要干什么？”
但我很有兴致来跨越这道鸿沟，而这些人们所表现出的好奇也促使我去履行这项使命。工作开始时，我通过翻译向大家说明我的身份和企图。过了这道坎之后，我就能和我的拍摄对象交流了——用眼神、用情感、用我的感受来交流。在这以后，我发现自己能够融入他们的家庭了，就像在那些我能够用语言交流的国家那样，进而能够拍下与他们默默交流的那一个又一个瞬间。
我把大部分时间都花在中国的农村地区，展现出一幕幕生活场景，又记录下他们的身影和面庞，不管是在当前还是长远的未来，这都是一幅崭新而细致入微的肖像，其间充满了各人独有的境遇。
在摄影专题进行之中，我被摄入镜头的中国家庭体现的强烈好奇心、极大的热忱和友善所感动。每次在他们家里，我还会感受到他们的决心、勇气和意志力量。看来他们只有一个行进方向，那就是向前。在被他们的热心和决心感动之余，我问自己，我真的能够拍好这里吗? 我很快就认定我能做到。我想起了维米尔的画作，这位荷兰大画家在很多方面给我的工作产生了启发。我还知道了怎样在他们家里捕捉他们的神情，怎样记录他们生活中的平和，尊严，安宁，俭朴和团结精神。
现在我对我的拍摄对象有着十足的信心，随着走访的城镇乡村越来越多，我愉悦之情也在不断地高涨。
我自然要感谢那些为我热心开门的中国家庭，他们请我坐下，让我跟他们一起饮茶，我会永远记住他们对我的好奇，他们的真情和热忱让我深感欣慰。
我还想说的是，在2004，2005年参加过平遥国际摄影节之后，我得以结交了很多中国朋友，很多是来自中国各地的摄影师。他们总是一听说我的专题计划之后就请我前往做客，还会陪我在那个省内游览，带我走过城镇乡村，前去拍摄我想见识的“中国人家”。我要感谢这些摄影师，他们是上海的陈海汶，昆明的吴家林，新疆的王汉冰，太原的王中文 他们给了我格外周到的帮助。在他们的帮助下我走过了贵州、云南、湖北、福建、浙江、新疆、山西等地。
我还要感谢荷兰合作银行对我这个摄影专题的支持。2006年三月，我把第一批“中国人家”的照片给荷兰合作银行的高级管理团队看，他们表现出极大的热情，并给了我很大的鼓舞。
我还要感谢伊丽莎白·普利斯特女士，是她把我介绍给了荷兰合作银行。
我还忘不了尚陆先生，在我迟疑不定的时候，他总是鼓励我勇往直前，永不退缩。
2006年9月于上海
