RENT A FOREIGNER, Edition Fotohof, Salzburg 2019
with an essay of Karl-Markus Gauss


The word “rent-a-laowai“ (“laowai” meaning foreigner in Chinese) refers to companies hiring foreigners to attend their events solely because of their “foreign faces.” The laowai are usually people from western countries and are only present to act as a prop.  This means that they are rarely asked to do anything beyond shaking hands, eating at a banquet and smiling for photos.

Hired by a Chinese development company, I attended presentations primarily for substantial and new projects. Inspired by the Italian fashion designer, Donatella Versace, I dressed in high heels and classy clothing to travel around China and play the glamorous role of the rent-a-laowai. Sometimes I held press conferences for the local television and press agencies.  Other times I hosted lectures for the sales assistants, store executives and shop clerks about status symbols and luxury in Italy.

Through my position I had the opportunity to observe the first meetings between consulting companies and those who were politically and financially responsible when starting to plan a new project. When I was in China, the company assigned two tasks: to photograph and develop commercial pictures for catalogues of luxury goods made in Italy, and to take part as a “foreign face“ during mall planning meetings with the Chinese ruling class.

The idea of making this book came from the consciousness of living an incredible

adventure, due both to the history of my family and my curiosity about the Chinese culture, which I wanted to document. The transformation of the Chinese market in the last 10 years,  from productor of cheap goods to consumer of luxury goods made in Italy,  made my adventure possible.