The Palace Museum, Beijing

I took this photo in 2008, and a black and white photo I took in my spare time when I went to Beijing for a photo shoot. This is an extraordinary image. The Forbidden City represents the imperial autocracy in history. Citizens dressed as peasants and public security officers representing the current autocratic regime meet, forming a fascinating picture.

The Palace Museum in Beijing was the centre of power in China's Qing Dynasty and a symbol of the autocratic regime. It was why the Chinese were closed to the country and was also a place where science and wisdom were trapped. It is also the beginning of the suffering of the people.