The Grey Catalogue

The Grey Catalogue is a photographic project by Barbara Rossi that explores the architecture of Shanghai's neighborhoods in the process of demolition, focusing on the old Lilong residential areas and traditional Shikumen architecture. Through a visual investigation of the grey shades that characterize these spaces, Rossi documents the erosion of collective memory and the rapid urbanization that is wiping out vital traces of the city's history.

The project unfolds as an act of archiving, an attempt to freeze time and preserve the identity of these areas before they are erased by the unchecked growth of the metropolis. Grey, chosen as the central color, becomes a symbol of melancholy, absence, and indifference toward historical memory. The photographs are accompanied by descriptive notes that tell the story and architectural features of the buildings, turning archiving into an act of remembrance and reflection on contemporary life.

With The Grey Catalogue, Rossi does more than just document; she raises broader questions about the meaning of preservation, loss, and the relationship between the past and future of modern cities.