TIMELESSNESS AND DEADLINES
Fuller is already drawing.
"The ring road walk will be just one element of the final picture," he said. "I also would like to talk about what is being done to address pollution, about the migrant workers, and the city's historical sites."
As a map-maker of sorts, it comes as no surprise that Fuller is interested in the topography of Beijing.
"There are hills in the northwest, with temples still dotted around. I am relaxed in the forest. It feels very far from the downtown frenzy," he said.
"The airport area is so similar to Heathrow, with huge movements of people from around the world, and planes taking off or landing every two minutes."
He was told that Tongzhou, where he now lives, was the ancient gateway to Beijing. "The government of Beijing is moving to Tongzhou so I am witnessing a critical moment of history." The more he sees, the better he perceives the lives of the people in Beijing and how those lives are changing.
On WeChat Fuller set up a group #WalkInProgress, where about one third of the 100-plus members are Chinese.
"People are my first tool of my work. I have to understand their feelings," he said, adding that he was learning Chinese.
When asked if he could complete his work in two years as expected, Fuller said "I am doing it full-time," which is hardly a yes or a no.
The picture, he says, "will be a story of Beijing. It is timeless."
