The PHOTO OP series — to which SEMIOVOX has invited our semiotician colleagues from around the world to contribute — analyzes photos that we’ve snapped while “off the job.”

Visiting Shanghai felt like entering a parallel dimension. Everything appeared similar yet strikingly different at the same time. Some products, displays, and food felt like they were from another world. I was particularly fascinated with the following personal care and beauty products, which are available worldwide, but I encountered them during this trip….

Elizabeth Arden’s Visible Whitening CicaGlow Concentrate is a skincare product with three benefits. The packaging showcases these benefits through liquids of different colours and consistencies. These activate and mix when shaken. It returns to its two-layer form once it rests for a while.

In Shanghai, I also came across LaPrairie’s Skin Caviar — which is infused with “Swiss Golden Caviar Extract” and comes in a format resembling caviar. Once shaken and stirred, it transforms into a cream. I was impressed by the use of the “caviar” form to denote the luxury positioning of the product.

One more image from the same trip. The skincare company 2am claims to provide targeted scientific — “clinic to bottle” — solutions. I can’t stop thinking about their futuristic display.

PHOTO OP: Mariane Cara (Brazil) on LA LUCHA CONTINUA | Aiyana Gunjan (India) on YAMRAJ | Greg Rowland (England) on I ❤️ FOOD | Gabriela Pedranti (Spain) on NOT SO TRIVIAL | Biba Allarakia (Saudi Arabia) on ALL THAT GLITTERS | Brian Khumalo (South Africa) on A LOST MEMORY | Becks Collins (England) on A MILLENNIAL ON THE BRINK | Samuel Grange (France) on SLOW DOWN | Rachel Lawes (England) on DESKTOP COLLECTIONS | Marie Lena Tupot (USA) on BOX OFFICE | Sónia Marques (Portugal) on SWISS-NESS | Serdar Paktin (Turkey / England) on BOTTLE SERVICE | Stefania Gogna (Italy) on OPEN-AIR MUSEUM | Charles Leech (Canada) on IS IT IRONIC? | Kishore Budha (England) on DOWN THE TUBE | Josh Glenn (USA) on JOINED AT THE DIP | Mark Lemon (England) on SHOP LOCAL | William Liu (China) on SWAN SONG | Malcolm Evans (Wales) on CHOCOCRACK | Paulina Goch-Kenawy (Poland) on POLAND’S NEW (HI)STORY | Adelina Vaca (Mexico) on WHAT’S YOUR POISON? | Natasha Delliston (England) on NATURE BATHING | Ramona Lyons (USA) on DEATH TO TECH | Victoria Gerstman (England) on TBD | Ximena Tobi (Argentina) on TBD.

Also see these global semio series: MAKING SENSE (Q&As) | SEMIOFEST SESSIONS (monthly mini-conferences) | COVID CODES | SEMIO OBJECTS | COLOR CODEX | DECODER (fictional semioticians) | CASE FILE | PHOTO OP | MEDIA DIET.