Australian Focuses on China: Photographer's exhibition captures daily life

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One of the events in Sydney's Chinese New Year celebrations aims to give Australians a unique view of contemporary life in China. It's done through the eyes and the lens of an Australian photographer who spent years capturing moments in time. Greg Navarro explains.

When a decade's worth of your life's work arrives in boxes, using extreme care is an understatement. Especially, when their arrival brings you steps closer to realizing a lifelong dream.

MARCUS REUBENSTEIN PHOTOGRAPHER "It's a bucket list thing, it is always something that I've always wanted to do."

That dream for Sydney photographer Marcus Reubenstein began when he first visited China 10 years ago.

MARCUS REUBENSTEIN PHOTOGRAPHER "The moment I arrived at a hotel in Guangzhou in southern China, I looked out of the hotel window and I knew immediately this was a bustling city and a society that people in the west really didn't understand and that began my fascination."

The 70 works displayed on the walls of a Sydney art gallery represent Rubenstein's fascination with China through the lens of an Australian with an eye on daily life.

MARCUS REUBENSTEIN PHOTOGRAPHER "I think it is just a basic human emotion that when you communicate with someone you look them in the eye and that means you are earnest and you are interested."

Moments in Time is billed as the largest Australian photography exhibit of contemporary life in China by an Australian photographer. It offers the kind of perspective that former Prime Minister Tony Abbott says is important for people in this country to consider.

TONY ABBOTT FORMER AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER "If we appreciate those shared aspirations better then that is the surest foundation for human progress and lasting peace."

GREG NAVARRO SYDNEY "While a lot of photographers will place themselves in certain situations, wait for that perfect shot for as long as it takes, Reubenstein says a lot of these pictures here were simply moments in time, things that he happened upon in his travels, lasting just seconds."

Reubenstein says the goal wasn't to intrude on people's lives, but instead capture their lives. And he hopes that people here leave with the same perspective that he realized on his very first visit.

MARCUS REUBENSTEIN PHOTOGRAPHER "I want an Australian audience in particular to look into the eyes of these people and to look into their hearts and to look into their souls and to understand that really, we are not that much different at all."

Which Reubenstein says is a foundation for friendship between two cultures. Greg Navarro, CGTN, Sydney.