Sirong Liu 刘思蓉

This is a magazine that explores various ordinary moments in life that many of us fail to notice.

Many moments in life can inspire us and make us re-examine life and the world. At the same time, it is also our memory, which makes us more motivated and meaningful in life. We may be too busy with our daily routines and responsibilities, or too distracted by the fast-paced and materialistic culture that surrounds us, to notice the subtle spiritual dimensions of our experiences.

The practice of mindfulness is used to cultivate an awareness and appreciation of the present moment, no matter how ordinary or mundane it may seem. By becoming more mindful, we can learn to recognize the sacredness and beauty that exists in every moment of our lives and develop a deeper sense of gratitude and connection with the world around us.

This magazine is called “Setsuna”, which is the Romanized pronunciation of the Japanese word for “split second”. This word came from a Buddhist term which was imported from the Chinese language but originated in India. I aim to break through language barriers and convey the feeling of "Setsuna" through visual language.

It is designed to guide readers through a logical layout of articles, leading them gradually from seeing, understanding, delving deeper, empathizing, reflecting, and ultimately trying. While the result may not necessarily bring about any substantial changes, if the shared photos can touch readers and inspire them to record the beauty of life, then that is a successful first step. In the process of mindfulness, the journey is often more important than the immediate experience.

A swan story

This issue is about the Mute Swan which is an endangered and rare animal in China. Therefore, for me, swans had only existed in books and on the internet. However, after coming to the UK, there was a river beside my apartment, which was home to many different birds throughout the year, including the swan family that I am documenting in this issue.

It has been exactly one year since I started consciously documenting them. Although there were several months with no photos taken, several key moments were recorded during my way to Sainsbury’s and the bus stop. My encounter with the swan family was accidental, but the continuous documentation was inevitable because such close encounters with birds are rare, and it was also the first time I lived by a river.

What can you see?

This issue mainly focuses on interaction with the readers. Through content guidance, readers are invited to discover their own world in seemingly ordinary photos, and to use their own experiences and imagination to describe the different worlds they see. The endless variety of human subjectivity determines the differences between individuals’ perspectives on the world.

The main elements selected for shooting are the reflections on the river surface and the clouds in the sky. Both of these elements are common natural scenes in daily life, but they are also the most easily overlooked. By consciously observing these scenes, we can add a lot of unique pleasure to our ordinary lives. The impermanence of life is found in the details of everyday life.

Hello, ordinay days.

This issue is talking about ordinary days.

To be purposeful and conscious is to pay attention and be aware of everything in the present moment, without making any judgments, analysis, or reactions, just simply being aware and attentive to it. This is a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the feelings and sensations in the present moment, and periodically recording one’s experiences in life. It allows people to experience more of the beauty in life that can easily be noticed but often goes unnoticed due to the fast-paced nature of our lives.