Shenphoto Blog & News

Review: ArtScope Magazine

2011-09-12T17:24:00.003-11:00

Review on ArtScope Magazine by Franklin W. Liu.

Chinese Sentiment at The Art Institute of Boston

2011-09-12T16:40:00.005-11:00

Shen Wei: Chinese Sentiment
Thursday, September 8 - Saturday, October 22, 2011

The AIB Gallery at University Hall
1815 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge

Gallery Hour:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 12:00pm – 5:00pm
Thursday: 3:00pm – 8:00pm
Saturday: 12:00pm – 5:00pm

For information, call: 617.585.6656

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! 中秋快乐！

2011-09-12T16:24:00.004-11:00

UntitledSelf-portrait (Mid-Autumn), 2011. © Shen Wei
From the Series I Miss You Already.

Recent Reviews

2011-06-30T15:14:00.003-11:00

Two recent exhibition reviews from The New Yorker:

Also more book and exhibition reviews of Chinese Sentiment:
Conscientious
International Association of Art Critics Hong Kong
DLA Collections

The Green Cart Exhibition Review.

2011-05-06T17:12:00.002-11:00

Link Here.

Almost Naked in Gallery 456

2011-04-29T19:42:00.005-11:00

Almost Naked exhibition is now on view at the Gallery 456 / Chinese American Arts Council (CAAC) in New York City. The exhibition will run through May 30th, 2011. CAAC is a non-for-profit organization that supports Asian art and artist living in America.

Chinese Sentiment at Daniel Cooney

2011-04-27T19:50:00.003-11:00

My solo exhibition Chinese Sentiment is now opened at Daniel Cooney Fine Art in New York City.

The exhibition runs from April 14th through June 4, 2011.

The Chinese Sentiment monograph is now available for pre-order on:
www.CharlesLanePress.com

Green Cart at Museum of City of New York

2011-03-21T19:54:00.009-11:00

In the past year, I have worked along with photographer LaToya Ruby Frazier, Thomas Holton, Gabriele Stabile and Will Steacy for the historic NYC Green Cart project, which is commissioned by the Aperture Foundation and supported by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.

The project now is on view at the Museum of the City of New York through July, curated by Sean Corcoran from MCNY and Denise Wolff from Aperture. Five individual newspaper catalogs are published for each artist by Aperture, they are available free at the museum. You can also view my part of the project entitled Table Setting on my website.

Moveable Feast: Fresh Produce and the NYC Green Cart Program
Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10029
March 22 – July 10, 2011

Harn Museum of Art

2011-01-15T16:59:00.002-11:00

Two photographs from Chinese Sentiment is now exhibited at the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida, part of museum's permanent collection of Asian Art.

Faces of Life

2011-01-11T16:16:00.006-11:00

Untitled Self-portrait (New York) © Shen Wei

My self-portrait is included in a group exhibition "Faces of Life: Contemporary Chinese Portraits" at the Museum of Central Academy of Fine Arts (a.k.a. CAFA Art Museum) in Beijing. The exhibition is organized by China LIFE Magazine, runs through January 16, 2011.

Life is a Pyramid.

2011-01-08T18:06:00.006-11:00

Untitled Self-portrait (Pyramid) © Shen Wei 2011

My first picture in 2011.

I think of it as a time-based work rather than a simple still-life, a self-portrait of course.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2010-12-23T11:19:00.002-11:00

"Love Life, Safe Work", Guilin, Guangxi Province. 2009

2010 Benefit Auctions

2010-10-24T20:04:00.010-11:00

The Aperture Foundation Benefit and Auction

Monday, November 1, 2010

The Lighthouse, Chelsea Piers

6:00–7:30 PM COCKTAILS and SILENT AUCTION
7:30–9:30 PM DINNER, AWARD CEREMONY, and LIVE AUCTION
9:30–11:30 PM SNAP! BENEFIT PARTY and EMERGING ARTISTS SILENT AUCTION
To preview all artworks or to bid online, please visit auction.aperture.org
To purchase tickets to the event, please visit www.aperture.org/2010benefit

2010 CCNY Photo Benefit Auction
Monday, October 25, 2010
6 - 8pm
Located at The Exhibition Lab
548 West 28th Street, 2nd Floor (betw 10th / 11th Avenues)

$15 admission. All proceeds go to The Camera Club of New York (CCNY), a non-profit 501(c)3 arts organization that has been nurturing talented photographers since 1884.

Meier und Mueller

2010-10-01T14:28:00.003-11:00

Meier und Mueller is a cutting edge photo book publishing project created by Jörg M. Colberg and Andrés Marroquín Winkelmann. They have recently released their first book - "Conditions" which I am so impressed by its unique design. You can also buy the book with prints and the limited Edition Box.

Niagara

2010-09-17T22:01:00.007-11:00

Untitled Self-portrait (Niagara) © Shen Wei 2010

I recently participated the Light Work Artist-in-Residency Program in Syracuse, NY. The residency was an amazing experience, taking place in the beautiful Syracuse University. During my time there, I have continuously worked on my self-portrait project I Miss You Already. In the last few days of my residency, I have visited Niagara Falls. The falls are breathtaking and intimidating. Ten minutes before my departure, I decided to make a self-portrait in front the falls. I was telling myself I would regret all my life if I didn't.

Revisit Almost Naked with music

2010-08-19T17:07:00.005-11:00

Artist José Bautista has created quite a few beautiful videos with originally composed music for photography work. His newest release is the motion video for my Almost Naked series. Somehow even myself is seeing and feeling something new from looking at these portraits from a different perspective.

Almost Naked, by Shen Wei. from José Bautista on Vimeo.

Self Exposure Show Reviewed on The New Yorker

2010-07-17T21:37:00.001-11:00

You Can read online here.

I Miss You Already.

2010-06-20T15:37:00.005-11:00

Untitled Self-portrait (Touch), 2010. © Shen Wei

I began to photograph a self-portrait project during my Rockefeller residency in Italy last year. In the past 9 months, I have continued working on this new exciting adventure. The best part of making this project is to gradually rediscover myself through honesty, openness and freedom. The courage of making this project comes from what I have learned from my previous projects.

You can view the project at my newly updated website:
www.shenphoto.com

A selection of the self-portraits will be included in an exhibition open on this Thursday.

Self Exposure
Work by Niles Ericson, Zacheri Logan, Francesca Romeo and Shen Wei

Opening: Thursday, June 24, 2010

6:00pm - 8:00pm

Daniel Cooney Fine Art

511 West 25th Street, Suite 506

New York, NY

Listen.

2010-06-01T16:42:00.006-11:00

Solo Concert, Chengdu, Sichuan Province. 2010 © Shen Wei

The sound is screechy and loud, echos the entire walkway. I was the only audience, she didn't even know. She was singing a love song, a song for her lover who travels far away. In a sunny afternoon of Chengdu, only this lady singing alone at the coldest corner of the park. I couldn't help but stop and listen. "Please bring me along, please bring me along ..." She sings.

The Real African Experience.

2010-03-29T16:32:00.006-11:00

My 12-day in Africa was definitely the most extraordinary travel experience I've ever had. I traveled mainly in 3 major cities in Nigeria - Lagos, Abuja and Kano, three very different flavor of Nigeria. The idea of this first African trip for me is not to see the monuments as a tourist, but to experience the authentic Africa, see where the local people live, work and play. It was an eye-opening journey, full of curiosity, excitement, surprising and sorrow. During this visit, I have visited several youth educational institutes, small hospitals, massive slums and an UN Millennium village. I gave lectures at two national universities and also had quite a few conversations with local artists.

I especially would like to thank Jonathan Fanton, the President Emeritus of MacArthur Foundation; and Kole, the head of MacArthur Foundation office in Nigeria for giving me this amazing opportunity to visit Africa and for arranging such a meaningful trip for me.

Below are some of the photos I took in my trip.

All imges © Shen Wei

First Impression of Africa

2010-03-15T00:26:00.003-11:00

After twenty-some hours, I finally arrived in Lagos - Nigeria's largest populated city. It seems so surreal to me. It has been one of my dream to visit Africa and now it is right in front of me. I have to thank Jonathan Fanton, the President Emeritus of MacArthur Foundation to make this trip happen for me. My first day is already very adventurous, visited two extraordinary slums. Little children followed me everywhere, they are some of the most adorable and happy kids I have ever seen. Locals are extremely warm and kind, eager to talk to me and show me around. The stereotype images of Africa has already been slowly changing in my mind. My first impression of Africa is so beyond my expectation. I understand why it is so easy to fall in love with this mysterious land.

Shanghai Dreams

2010-02-17T08:54:00.005-11:00

National Geographic recently featured an article about Shanghai, titled Shanghai Dreams, along with an interesting photo gallery. I always get very excited about these kinda article about Shanghai, a city that I am deeply rooted. Shanghai has been a dream for me for all my life, it has never left me even though I have lived far away from it in the past decade. Although most western media can only focus on the fascinating appearance of Shanghai, it is really her profound subculture that's uniquely attractive to me.

Below is a video of Chinese New Year's Eve in Shanghai just a few days ago, it is as crazy as I remembered last year. Apparently, the city managed to throw up 1000 tons of fireworks that night.

NEW.

2010-01-01T22:02:00.007-11:00

From a Self-portrait project. Bent, 2009. © Shen Wei

Interestingly, this has been the least emotionally aroused New Year's Day for me. Perhaps after many years of celebration, I finally come to the point of spending this day just like any other day. I quite like it actually.

2010 is going to be an adventurous, productive, exciting and freer year for me. I am planning to do many new things in 2010. A new project, new travel plans, new book-in-making, new hairstyle, new apartment, new friends and perhaps new shows...

I most proud of my new project, a self-portrait project that I have been thinking about for a long time and I have started it just recently. This might be something that I couldn't imagine myself to do a few years ago but I have already found my new self through making these self-portraits.

Happy New Year, all my friends!

The Steam Room.

2009-12-06T14:26:00.009-11:00

What I like about the steam room is that naked people voluntary sit together with harmony. Even though when people are quite silent (most time), you can hear the deep sighing, some are more euphonious than others; you feel someone's heartbeat and also yours, and the sound of steam pumping into the room is the only thing that reminds you the existing of air. I imagine this must be some of the other planets in the universe look like - a steam planet, where everyone has perfect skin, moist, warm, and bouncy.

I often sit in the steam room until I couldn't take it anymore, especially when I am about to getting a cold. Like this morning, I woke up with a sour throat, quickly packed up my gym clothes and ready for a long meditation. There are about five to ten men in the steam room, all wear white towels, smelled bleachy. I was mostly half-faint, my mind is definitely somewhere else while inhaling more hot steam than I should have, rapidly. I was visualizing the virus in my body fighting like an ancient Barbarian war. I thought about my life then, my photographs, noodle soups, my high school girlfriend who emailed me last night, and the man sitting next to me. He had leaned his body back and popped his rib cage, water drops sliced down from the surface of his oily hair.

When my brain might be near completely filled with steam, the war in my body is dying, all I can see is the white light, I convinced myself everything will be fine. As I stood up, towel re-wrapped on my waist, slowly moved to that semi-transparency door what makes me feeling like walking out of a light box. For just one or two second, I believed in Heaven.

Photos @ Shen Wei

Persimmon.

2009-11-16T11:20:00.008-11:00

This morning I ate two persimmons for breakfast, both were not mature enough, a little hard and tasted puckery. I bought them in Chinatown on Sunday. When I was in Lake Como last month, I discovered a huge persimmon tree near my studio. I have never seen so many persimmons on one tree, the fruits were big, each one is twice as large as the ones I got from the Chinatown. Every time I walk by the tree, I would pick one and bring it to my studio, soon I had a bunch of them on my windowsill, they looked beautiful. They were also too raw to eat. Some days, I would lost my patience and cut one of them and lick the juice, some part of it can be already sweet, but mostly was astringent. The smell of the persimmon reminds me of the aftermath of a wild sex.

Lunch in Elmhurst, Queens, sat in one of our favorite Malaysian restaurant with my best friend. She would leave for Beijing in a few hours, for good. Sadness. All dishes on the table tasted same, tart, pungent and a little bit sweet; like the persimmons I had in the morning. I suddenly became too Chinese to express what I would like to say to her. It may embarrass her. We had hugged at the airport, the longest, strongest hug we have ever had, a bit tart. As I left airport, I saw this middle aged man sitting there, starring blankly, skin looked sun burned, like an awaiting orange fruit.

In Paris.

2009-11-09T06:03:00.003-11:00

Thanks.

The common atmosphere in cities such as Paris, New York and Shanghai is that invisible sense of coldness, and everyone appears to be very much fullfilled (at least on the streets). The Aperture book Paris-New York-Shanghai explains all.

Exhibition at Nemo HQ Gallery

2009-11-04T14:26:00.002-11:00

Image © Shen Wei

I am very pleased to announce my upcoming two-person show with New York based Chinese-American photographer Jane Tam at Nemo HQ Gallery in Portland, OR. If you are in the area, please stop by.

Sad but Inspired.

2009-11-03T10:31:00.003-11:00

The Villa is high above on the hill of the Bellagio village.

Night Ferry on Lake Como.

My residency in Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center was ended last week. It was difficult to leave such a beautiful place and was very sad to say good-bye to all the friends I have made during this month-long residency. The best part of this residency is to meet the scholars and artists from all over the world in all different fields such as writing, music, law, politics and non-for-profit organization. I have learned so much from other residences and was inspired to working on unplanned new projects. Last but not least, I have to thank the director of the center Pilar and the staffs of The Villa to make my stay so very special. This residency definitely is one of those experiences I will never forget.

New Drawing.

2009-10-17T09:27:00.005-11:00

Fresh © Shen Wei

A color drawing I made today. My favorite color of today is red.

Passing Varenna.

2009-10-17T09:24:00.001-11:00

Across the Lake from Bellagio is another beautiful village called Varenna where the train station is. Every time I take the ferry, I see this little church in the middle of a huge mountain. I am thinking about getting up there next week.

Mint Ice Cream.

2009-10-11T03:25:00.002-11:00

It is my fresh new re-start to do some drawings and watercolors. I used to love drawing and painting while I was in China. In the past 10 days, I have experimented with some drawings and watercolors. I hope this is something I will continue to do in the future and to intertwine them with my photography work.

Como Rain.

2009-10-09T01:11:00.008-11:00

It rains very hard today. The mountains faraway become almost invisible, a different kind of stunning. The village is extra peaceful with the sound of raindrop and the deep gasp of the ferry boats; even the conversation between the local children and the local dogs are disappearing. A perfect afternoon for some sentimental drawings.

Hello from Bellagio.

2009-10-03T05:30:00.004-11:00

The morning of Lake Como. © Shen Wei

Lake Sunset. © Shen Wei

It is the third day of my residency at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center in Italy. Bellagio is in the heart of Lake Como, at the tip of the peninsular which divided the lake to the shape of a man. I sometimes get very distracted by the absolutely stunning view outside of my windows. Last night, I made a little drawing in my studio, it started very strong, then I kind of ruined it, and then I found a way saved it. This afternoon, as I was eating my lunch in a small rocky beach alone in the nearby village called Varenna, I really wished the time could just stop there.

Inside the Consorzio Di Bonifica

2009-09-28T20:28:00.009-11:00

I regret not go to Savignano Italy to see the SI FEST (see details in last entry), but luckily so many of my friends have gone to see it and sent back great photos of the exhibition. The Global Photography 2009 exhibition was shown in this fantastic ancient architecture Consorzio Di Bonifica (Reclamation Consortium). I really love the characteristic interior of the building and the installation of the show. Below is some photos taken by one of the curators Massimo Sordi. Here is any article about the SI Fest by Christian Gattinoni, it is in French, but that's when Google Translate can step in.

Tomorrow I will also go to Italy for the Creative Artist Residency program at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center. I am very excited and can't wait to start working on my new project over there. Hope I will have some amazing journey to share at here in the next few month.

Photo: Massimo Sordi

SI FEST 2009

2009-09-05T20:46:00.002-11:00

The SI FEST 2009 – Photo Festival of Savignano, Italy will be opened on September 11th, 2009. A series of portrait from Almost Naked will be included in a group exhibition "GLOBAL: PHOTOGRAPHY 09 - looking at/looking for", curated by Massimo Sordi, Stefania Rössl and Fabio Severo.

The exhibition will run from September 11th to October 4th, 2009 in Savignano. After the photo festival, it will travel to Venice/Mestre from march 19th to April 24, 2010. The Rome and Bari exhibition dates will be confirmed soon.

GLOBAL:PHOTOGRAPHY 09 Artist:

evan baden (USA)
catherine balet (F)
mathieu bernard-reymond (CH)
michele cera (I)
samantha cohn (USA)
jen davis (USA)
wolfram hahn (D)
alessandro imbriaco/francesco millefiori (I)
seba kurtis (ARG)
molly landreth (USA)
kalpesh lathigra (UK)
maria leutner (D)
andrés marroquín winkelmann (PERU)
colin pantall (UK)
andrew phelps (A)
marion poussier (F)
blerim racaj (UK)
richard renaldi (USA)
frank rothe (D)
carla van de puttelaar (NL)
shen wei (CHINA/USA)

Alone in the Fog.

2009-08-20T20:12:00.013-11:00

Soldier, Chongqing. 2009 © Shen Wei

Street Cleaner, Wuhan, Hubei Province. 2009. © Shen Wei

Girl, Xi'an, Shannxi Province. 2009 © Shen Wei

The Yellow Mountain, Anhui Province. 2008 © Shen Wei

When I travel in China, I was always in and out of the fog, the good fog and the bag fog. I waited for three days to finally see the otherworldly Yellow Mountain flirted by the thin clouds. The city of Chongqing also seems to be permanently marinated in a nurturing moist, while Taiyuan provided me the less pleasant dusty haze.

I love fog - especially when I discover others similar to me, who just like to enjoy a moment of inebriation, alone.

Aperture Foundation Green Cart Commission

2009-08-12T20:57:00.003-11:00

Aperture Foundation has released the news of their yearlong commission project about the historic NYC Green Cart. I am very honored to have been selected as one of the five photographers commissioned for this amazing project. I am also looking forward to working with four very talented photographers, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Thomas Holton, Gabriele Stabile and Will Steacy. It is an interesting, challenging and inspiring project. I cannot wait to start working on it.

For more information on the project and NYC Green Cart, you can read the official press release and this New York Times article.

Heat.

2009-08-08T09:16:00.005-11:00

Sun Bathing, Los Angeles, CA. 2002 © Shen Wei

It's a very quiet and peaceful Saturday afternoon in downtown Manhattan. I decide to watch a old Andy Warhol classic HEAT. I love this kind of oldies from 1970s. I was born in China in 1970s when gray was the in color, that makes me curious about what was like in the west at the time. In this film, everything is peach and cyan, like a Hockney painting, bright and seductive. It is strictly Californian. I used to spend a couple of trips each year to California for the sun, the pool, the hot bodies and etc. A friend of mine who lived in this West Hollywood condo where I firmly believe to be the site of HEAT. It is also peach and cyan. Pat Ast who plays the crazy lady Lydia in the film was live behind that condo. I went to visit her and her dogs and took some photos of her. She is crazy, in an amazingly charming way. There is pool in the middle of the building, no one has ever in it, it was forever empty and pristine. I intended to jump in to recreate that famous Hockney painting. The water was way too hot, heated by the unbearable hot summer sun. One afternoon I saw this guy sun bathing by the pool wear a red Speedo. I had a flashing moment of time reversed to the 1971.

Portrait of Youth

2009-07-25T01:00:00.000-11:00

Installtion view of Portrait of Youth @ J&Z Gallery

Some portraits from Almost Naked are included in a group show Portrait of Youth at J&Z Gallery in Shenzhen.

The exhibition is curated by Azure Wu from the ArtChina Magazine, other artists in the show are Meng Yangyang, Tseng Yu-Chin and Zhang Ding.

The exhibition will be on view through August 23, 2009.

Noodle Soup

2009-07-24T21:48:00.001-11:00

Noodle Soup, Xi'an, Shannxi Province. 2009 © Shen Wei

One afternoon, I stopped at a noodle shop while I am traveling in the city of Xi'an. The shop looked very shabby, dark, and that's where the good noodles are normally come out of. I ordered egg noodle in a hot & sour broth to go. Surprisingly, the noodle soup was served in a clear plastic bag. I left it on my window counter for a while and wonder how I am going to eat it without a bowl. More I looked at it, more adorable it appears to be and I became more hungry. Eventually I ate it after a quick picture moment. I ate it right out of the plastic bag. It was definitely a challenge, but well worth it, the noodle was absolutely delicious. My attempt of drinking the soup was unsuccessful, which is a little pity.

Anyway, my project Chinese Sentiment is updated, add some new pictures, please check it out.

Project 5

2009-07-24T14:30:00.005-11:00

Amador Gallery, ClampArt, Daniel Cooney Fine Art, Foley Gallery and Sasha Wolf Gallery are proud to announce their collaboration on a series of projects.

This unique cooperation between gallerists has grown from years of friendships and shared ambitions in the photography market. Reaching out to one another to create these new initiatives seemed like the next step for these 5 to collectively grow their shared ideals while maintaining their own distinguished programming.

The galleries, referred to here as, Project 5, will begin their collaboration with a portfolio of 5 images by 5 artists, one from each of the participating Project 5 galleries to be released on September 15. All images will be unique to the portfolio—made specifically by the participating artists for this project. The artists included are: Olaf Otto Becker from Amador, Jill Greenberg from ClampArt, Stuart O'Sullivan from Daniel Cooney, Thomas Allen from Foley Gallery and Guido Castagnoli. The portfolios will be released in an edition of 30, priced with new collectors in mind at $2500. Each print will be signed and numbered by the artist and the portfolio will be enclosed in a custom made clothbound case. The portfolio offers collectors the unique opportunity of starting a relationship with five different artists and galleries at the same time.

Additionally, Project 5 is introducing a series of Portfolio Reviews for artists who feel they would benefit from the valuable input of these gallerists' expertise. The first Portfolio review will be Sunday, September 20th. Project 5 asks that artists send ten jpgs to info@project5group.com for consideration. Artists can contact any of the participating galleries for more information.

Another exciting collaboration will be a monthly series of Artist's Salons that will alternate between Project 5's galleries. The first Salon will be held at Daniel Cooney Fine Art on Saturday, September 26th at 3:00 p.m. and will feature four emerging artists presenting their latest bodies of work for a half hour each. Participating artists are Timothy Briner, Yola Monakhov, Jessica Dimmock, and Cara Phillips.

Please contact any of the Project 5 galleries for more information.
Amador Gallery 212 759 6740 info@amadorgallery.com
ClampArt 646 230 0020 brian@clampart.com
Daniel Cooney Fine Art 212 255 8158 dan@danielcooneyfineart.com
Foley Gallery 212 244 9081 michael@foleygallery.com
Sasha Wolf Gallery 212 925 0025 info@sashawolf.com

Guidelines for applying to Project 5’s Portfolio Review
Date of Review: Sunday, September 20th

Project 5 is proud to announce our first group Portfolio Review in New York City. Project 5 is a unique collaboration between Amador Gallery, ClampArt, Daniel Cooney Fine Art, Foley Gallery and Sasha Wolf Gallery that has grown out of years of friendship and shared ambitions in the photography market.

Project 5 hopes to foster a supportive environment for artists to receive constructive criticism and build an ongoing dialogue about their work with art world professionals. After the formal reviews conclude we will have a short one hour meet and greet so that all the artists and reviewers will have an opportunity to meet each other and share contacts, ideas, etc.

To apply for Project 5's Portfolio Review please send:
-A written description of your work
- A biography that outlines your education and professional experience.
- A link to your website, if you have one.
- 10 jpegs sent either in a zip file or attached to an email (or series of emails). The jpgs should be 100 dpi and 6 inches at the largest dimension.

Project 5's Portfolio Review will consist of three 20-minute reviews with three of Project 5's gallerists. Great consideration will be given to the matching of gallery owners and artists based on the strengths and experience of each.

Deadline for receipt of materials for this review will be September 6th and the artists will be notified of acceptance by September 9th. A $250 check made out to Project 5 will be due by September 12th.

Please direct any questions to info@project5group.com or to any of the galleries involved. from Sasha Wolf Gallery.

The Nude Orange Juice Drinker

2009-07-14T07:04:00.005-11:00

Liao, Shanghai. 2009 © Shen Wei

Orange juice in China is not so much the "national juice" as in America. My generation grew up in China drinking water mix with sugar and a local Cola named Lucky. Even now there are too many choices of juices on the menu, orange seems to be the least popular. Watermelon juice is the orange juice in China, we stick with the national color! This guy who I have been asking for a photo session since January prefers an orange juice over a diet coke in a late afternoon in Shanghai. There is something so sensual about this movement of a glass of yellow liquid slipping into a naked body, both erotic and raw, almost transparent. The mattress was naked, too; something that I am always interested in.

Photograph nudes in China is a entirely different experience as in the US. People are extra cautious and nervous. It took me longer time to convince someone, especially a stranger to pose for me, full frontal is an extra work. In the Chinese Sentiment, I experiment the juxtaposition of these intimate bedroom portraits with the moody landscape and still life, intent to create a contrast between the public views and the private situation that perhaps only Chinese people can fully understand.

June in China.

2009-07-11T14:21:00.006-11:00

Black Swan, Xi'an, Shanxi Province. 2009 © Shen Wei

June is a moody month. It has already gotten very hot and humid in Shanghai. When I was younger, I remember it rains a lot from mid-May throughout the month of June. I was looking forward to shoot the city wet. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. One day, I decided to go to The Bund, and half way to the subway, I turned myself into an air-conditioned coffee shop and spent the rest afternoon watch the city steaming.

Friends ask me how I choose which city to photograph for my Chinese Sentiment project. Honestly, I don't really choose, I just randomly go. For me, the different location is not what this project is about, I want to show China in a most authentic way, strip away from its political and economic phenomenons, a simpler view of China, an idea that I can relate to my childhood memory. I go cities that I personally desire to, explore them with my instinct and be inspired by the different culture and people. When I look at my images, I don't see where I was, I feel the emotion that I had for the subject I photograph.

I consider it was very lucky of me that every city I went had rained. I particular like the city in the rain, for the freshness and the magical light. As much as I love Shanghai, you just can't feel that kinda freshness in Shanghai, for a few moments maybe, definitely not to compare a city like Guilin. It was also raining when I was photographing a young boxer in Hangzhou. The young man was surprisingly relaxed, half naked and innocent. I later let him keep my umbrella and then ran in a vicious storm as I waved down the taxi in the Shanghai Rail station. The rain always tastes a bit tart in Shanghai. I shared a cab with this young women. She was upset because she has just been dumped at the gay pride.

Beautiful and sweet.

2009-05-22T19:28:00.013-11:00

Today I saw this subway ticket vendor machine in the Spring Street station on the E line. He stood there alone, seemed very patient and emotionless, his lips is plump and red. I have never looked at these machines ever. Why should I? I must unconsciously decided they are too ugly to deserve a look. I assume his friends who used to stand right by his side are retired or getting a face lift. Now that he is more visible on his own. He looks actually quite cute! With patches of color and everything, a little nerdy, a little tacky, but sweet.

My parents was visiting me in New York last month. They spent that whole time stuffing my refrigerator with all sorts of delish. My usually empty freezer now is fulfilled with homemade dumplings and stuffed tofuwraps. I especially love the handwriting on the aluminum foil by my mother, it is quite elegant and old-fashioned (writing from up to down is very ancient to me). The writing reads like a poem, even though they're just the instruction of how to cook what's inside. The dumplings are the work of art themselves, they make that orange package of whatever looks so guiltyly unattractive.

NYPH2009, books and big hair.

2009-05-14T17:19:00.007-11:00

There are way too much events going on during this week's New York Photo Festival. I went to last night's powerHouse Arena opening and the crowd was huge. I met old and new friends, drank exotic cocktail and grabbed some freebies. It was all kinda fun and interesting!

My Almost Naked limited edition book is also nominated for the New York Photo Awards among a list of great nominees, including a couple of my favorites - Michal Chelbin and Simon Roberts. Last year's winner is my jet set friend Amy Stein's Domesticated, published by Photo Lucida. Speaking of books, my very sexy photographer friend Juliana Beasley also has a limited Edition book Lapdancer, the book also comes with an original print. The hottest new book at this moment is got to be Richard Renaldi's Fall River Boys, published by Charles Lane Press, the book is truly a work of art.

Tonight, I went to an artist talk with Nan Goldin and Lisa Ross at the Daneyal Mahmood Gallery. I have never seen Nan Goldin in person, I was extremely excited. I must have written every single paper on Nan Goldin when I was in the college, I just love her. She was intense (love her gaze), funny, calm, and has a big red curly hair. There is something about woman with big crazy curly hair that I love, they are special! I remember one afternoon I saw this woman with an amazingly huge messy curly hair walking in front me. I had to speed up a little bit to see her face. It was Tama Janowitz! Later I met her in a few dinner parties, one time she was sitting right next to me, of course I was way too shy to say anything.

Chinese Garden and Chinese Banquet.

2009-05-09T18:14:00.009-11:00

Today I spent some time finally look through the photos that have left in my digital camera for a while. Last time I point-and-shoot was in the Metropolitan Museum of Art a few weeks ago where I had found my new muse - The Chinese Garden Court. For someone who grew up in an area that's famous for its ancient Chinese garden, this garden should not be something I'd wowed about, but strangely I did. I had a strong feeling wanting to observe at the garden. The fact that I can not sit inside the pavilion gave me an urge to really look at it from outside. The garden in the MET was not so spectacular, it is small, elegant and almost too tidy, it kept reminding me that I was in a Chinese garden in a museum. There was very few people there, I sat down and meditate. It was strangely silent, no singing birds and frogs, very strange. When I walked out of the garden, passed though the Water Lily Garden of Monet, there was layers of people staring at it and wowing. And I thought: would that be nice if they put some lilies in the Chinese Garden.

Appearently, before my MET visit, I only used my camera way back when I was in China in January. I took a few photos when I was in this hotel attending a banquet. There I discovered another banquet across the street. The banquet room was so over the top, like a set out of the Moulin Rouge, it is hilarious. After a few minutes of giggling, I quickly found myself sitting among a row of cream colored plaster Roman columns.

Poems

2009-04-28T08:09:00.005-11:00

I have been reading some poems lately. Friend of mine gave me a Walt Whitman's classic Leaves of Grass. I read it when I first moved to the US, I was just getting used to English, so I could not really fully understand it, now I read it again, simply amazed of its depth and beauty (although still not fully understanded). I am now reading Jim Moore's Lightning at Dinner, which was given by Troy Williams on my exhibition opening night, it is contemporary and light, best to be read in a perfect sunny afternoon in the park.

Yesterday, I happily received 2 more poems from Marc Nieson who had written a couple of poems on photographs from Almost Naked. He had a reading in Pittsburgh recently and presented along with my photographs. Here is the most recent writings He did for Jody and Alex&Fumi.

Fumi and Alex, 2004.

Almost Naked

daily we sit across tables
clothed in ritual
it's what we grasp for
the teapot, the spout
the windowsill, the salt
pass the windows
pass the salt,
please
please me, please
pretty please
but don't you see
the glass is stained
the view obscured
cover your privates
pot your plants
carnations of the nation
dieffenbachia, fig
private eyes
private enterprise
private practice
practicing privacy
it's what we grasp
the edge of frame
the ledge of falling
but don't you see
the tablecloth's transparent
the flowering of light
the body always says more
the articulation of joints
it's what we grasp for
every day we shed ourselves
every day we can
reach
the mosaic is still somewhere
overhead
translucent

Jody, 2003.

Everything You've Ever

Sometimes it's all moonlight and movie magazines. All hemlines and heartbeats. Chandeliers. The backseats of Buicks or Saturns. 1939, 1999. All windshields and waiting.

Or say Sinatra at the Paramount in 1944. The cue curling clear round a full city block. Bleach-white bobby socks and saddle shoes, glossies from the radio station clutched to your chest. A parade of inches, of hours, until finally that marquee blinks into view, his cutout towering three stories overhead. Bigger than life.

That torn ticket stub between your fingers, the stone stairwell spinning all the way up to the 2nd balcony. Up among the gold leaf and tinkling crystal, the painted angels, you swear, humming hymns. Almost heaven. Still, down down below stands that single microphone, dead-center stage and spotlit, the moment all chrome and breathless and him, him, him just offstage. In the wings, as they say.

And when finally he steps out, the din is overwhelming and all you can see are plaid skirts jumping up onto the seats before you until finally, finally . . . there

There he is, if only big as a finger. As his bowtie, really.

But it doesn't matter, he's live and floating up to the microphone now, glowing with everything that, that inhale of . . . that first, forever . . .

The People across the Street.

2009-04-19T17:12:00.010-11:00

I have a mixed feeling about the views of my apartments. Since I moved to New York, I have always ended up in an apartment with a slightly interesting view. My first apartment in New York was a new skyscraper one block from Time Square. I can see New Jersey from my apartment, beautiful sunset, along with a couple of hooker's corners and the sex shops on 8th Ave. Then I "upgraded" to the Upper East Side, everyday I saw nothing but a row of empty balconies at the back of those fancy prewar townhouses. Occasionally, there was this nanny sat in the gray colored backyard, file her nails while the babies were taking a nap.

Now I live in downtown Manhattan. I mean down-downtown, Financial District that is. This is rather a unique area. During the daytime, this place is flooded with yuppies, tourists (normally attached with at least one Century 21 shopping bag), news anchors, protesters, deliver trucks, college students, etc. It is completely crazy. But at night time, it becomes very peaceful, not quite a ghost town, but a small town with giant buildings. Once I walked my dog along Wall Street in the evening, right at that corner of Nassau and Wall, you can see the building of Stock Exchange, the Creek Roman styled Federal Hall National Memorial with the Statue of George Washington, a silhouette of a Church nearly, and a policeman on the horse. I thought, this must be how New York in 1932 looks like, it was stunning, romantic and mysterious.

The next morning, I looked outside of my window, what is a massive office building with endless windows, everyone is doing their things. There is this woman getting interviewed while a man working on his charts next door. I see them everyday, indeed. I think they know me every well. They have seen me naked walking out of my shower, they waved at my dog sometimes, possibly admire my tastefully arranged apartment when no one is here.

But I know nothing about them (except where they work).

Pictures from Peru.

2009-04-12T15:45:00.009-11:00

Check out my friend Andres Marroquin Winkelmann's new project Zapallal/Yurinaki. I especially love some of those very stunning still life pictures.

Viewfinders Interview on Zoom In Online

2009-04-07T16:15:00.005-11:00

Zoom In Online has released their new video series Viewfinders on Portrait Photographers, it is a series of video interviews of photographers talk about their work. I am very happy to be part of this project. You can also see more video interviews here. The videos are produced by Magnet Media.

Almost Naked Opening @ RSG

2009-04-02T18:03:00.005-11:00

Tonight is the opening night of my Almost Naked solo exhibition at Randall Scott Gallery. The opening was very successful, special thanks to Randall and the gallery staffs for the hard work. I am happy to see many old and new friends. It was a wonderful opening. The show will run through May 2nd, come to see the work in person and experience the surprisingly vibrant DUMBO art scene.

Hot glass of Water...

2009-03-20T20:46:00.005-11:00

Pomegranate, Shanghai. 2009 © Shen Wei

An old friend told me - when I was a teenage, I used to microwave water to very hot, then left the whole glass of hot water outside of the window to cool it down, for protection, I covered the glass with a stack of white paper.

I was shocked when I heard that, because it sounds so silly but I can totally imagine myself doing it. I wonder if I have ever left the glass of water outside forever. I have selective memory as I am told, depending on how exciting my life is after I put that hot water out. I don't even like drink hot water.

Life is strange.

Coincidentally, I actually took a photograph of the outside of my window last time I was in Shanghai, no aged hot water, just this sad lonely pomegranate tree. Hum... did I...

Solo Exhibition @ Randall Scott Gallery

2009-03-17T10:43:00.007-11:00

Flowers in the Backseat, 2007. © Shen Wei

I am pleased to announce my upcoming solo exhibition of Almost Naked at Randall Scott Gallery. Randall Scott Gallery is now moved from Washington D.C. to New York's Brooklyn DUMBO area. This is the inaugural exhibition in this new location.

Exhibition Info.:

Shen Wei
Almost Naked

April 2nd-May 2nd
opening reception for the artist
April 2nd 6pm-8pm

Randall Scott Gallery
111 Front Street #204
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(Located on the corner of Front and Washington Streets in-between the bridges)

www.randallscottgallery.com
info@randallscottgallery.com

Hours:
11am-6pm Wed-Sat

Document the Youth

2009-03-16T15:20:00.009-11:00

Chinese photographer Li Yuning was one of the participators of my workshop in Shanghai a few month ago. Li is a Captain in the military, a generous, mature and interesting guy. In my workshop, he presented his documentary project of the youthful life of Chinese soldiers. I was immediately drawn into his work, they are beautiful, intimate, emotional, nature and sweet. And this is also one of the subject matters which is very rarely being explored in the Chinese photography.

Almost Naked Limited Edition Book Released!

2009-03-02T22:54:00.008-11:00

All Images © Shen Wei

I am pleased to announce the release of my first Limited Edition book Almost Naked Shen Wei, a collectible portfolio-style book.

Only 218 editions are available.

Almost Naked is my first major project that has received numerous recognition and awards. This portfolio book contains 25 images from the series, along with an embossed title page, an artist's statement, a Certificate of Authenticity and an index page. Each book is signed, numbered and dated.

Please see more details about this book.

Chinese Sentiment Updated

2009-03-02T21:49:00.004-11:00

Editing Chinese Sentiment on my kitchen counter.

Editing is always like an adventure for me. It is both very exciting and frustrating. I made a new edit of my Chinese Sentiment project for my website just a few hour ago. It was started at around 200 images chosen from my last 4 trips to China. My goal is to edit down to 50, well, it was a long and tough journey, many heart wrenching decisions. To keep myself cool, I always do my editing meditation on my kitchen counter, completed with Buddha, green tea and spice drops. A little Zen always helps.

Please check on my website, many new images are added, advices are more than welcome!

We Are Here Just For You.

2009-02-28T23:03:00.006-11:00

We Are Here Just For You, Chongqing. 2009 © Shen Wei

I walked pass this neon sign many times in Chongqing and am always so fascinated by it. The sign reads "We Are Here Just For You" in both Chinese and English. It is hugely located on the top of some residential buildings. It lights up at night beautifully, sometimes red, sometimes green, sometimes just white, with or without the frame. I don't know what this sign is for, perhaps an advertising for something, or a city slogan, I don't know... Whatever it's for, it reads good, a message that makes me feeling extra safe every time I walk by it. I love these images of the sign, now I just have to decide the red sign or the white sign.

Room with a View.

2009-02-25T20:19:00.004-11:00

Room with a View, Chongqing. 2009 © Shen Wei

Chongqing is one of my favorite cities in China. Her stunning beauty, perfectly defused lighting, and the slightly muted human mood make Chongqing the most photogenic city I've ever been in China.

In my last trip to Chongqing, me and my friends stayed at a hotel by the magnificent Yangtze River. Expect, when everyone got a room with a river view, I have a room with no window. First of all, I was mad, until I see my room. Well, I have a view, too, sort of. In my windowless room, shaped like a crashing triangle, at one corner near the bed, a green piece of glass separates a small area from the rest of the room. Inside this little space, there is a fake palm tree planted in the rocks, a tiny tropical island makes up for people who willing to stay in the stuffy room. I especially found of this little paradise, when I lay on my bed, I can't help to turn my head every 30 seconds. It gets better at night, it is spooky! To perfect my exotic room, a "Coconut Breeze" air freshener was dedicated on my nightstand the next morning. Aloha!

The Changing Landscape.

2009-02-22T21:18:00.006-11:00

June 2008. © Shen Wei

January 2009. © Shen Wei

I grew up by the infamous Suzhou Creek of Shanghai. The creek was very stinky then, with hundreds of boats going through everyday. One summer I discovered this huge slump by the creek, it was an amazing maze. I liked to ride my bicycle in and get lost, when I want to come out, I just follow the smell of the creek. Gradually, I was addicted to that smell. One day I rode my bicycle there, the slump was flattened, completely. Then, the boats were slowly disappearing. Then the smell is gone.

Lecture in M1NT.

2009-02-14T22:48:00.007-11:00

My one-month trip in China ended with a private and lush lecture at M1NT, World's first shareholder's club. The club is posh and intimate, a bit over the top (just like the lecture invitation). The lecture was conducted in English, with 25 collectors and art lovers in present. The whole event can not be more cool, with The Bund location and spectacular view, the delicious cocktail and lamb chop. Of course, the lecture was very successful I thought, a lot of interaction with the audiences. Thanks Sven, Yun and Julia for preparing such a perfect event.

I am in Shanghai Airport right now, back to NYC in 15 hours. I have heard the cold weather is waiting for me a head.

Me doing whatever in China.

2009-02-14T02:13:00.004-11:00

One of the benefits of traveling with my friend Baibai is that she constantly photographs me doing whatever, not that I am so narcissistic, I sometimes like to know how I look like in real life... you know, look at the mirror is quite not the same as look at a candid photo of yourself. So here are some photos of me doing whatever during our Chongqing-Wuhan trip.

Practicing Yoga in the hotel room.

Changing film while being observed.

Photographing what I can't remember in a tea house in Chongqing.

Me and Baibai eating (all the time) in Wuhan. Photo by 阿D.

A Workshop in Shanghai.

2009-02-11T00:29:00.008-11:00

Last weekend I taught a workshop in Shanghai. The workshop is sponsored by Kunst.licht Shanghai. We choose only 10 photographers among numerous applications from all over China. The 3-day workshop was very inspirational to me. I also have received many joys of interacting and communicating with Chinese young photographers. Here are the work of all 1o photographers from the workshop. I wish I will have more opportunities to participate such wonderful events in China in the future.

Chongqing-Shanghai

2009-02-10T00:01:00.002-11:00

Light of Chongqing - Watermelon of Shanghai.

The Almost Naked Press Check.

2009-02-09T23:35:00.006-11:00

Match making.

Such a beautiful test strip.

Pretending I know something :-)

I apologize for the lack of updates recently. I had a couple of busy weeks. I traveled to Chongqing and Wuhan for 7 days (many stories to tell...stay tuned). When I come back to Shanghai, I discovered I still have a planet of things to be taken care of, some interviews, teaching a workshop, and very important, press check for my Almost Naked portfolio book.

The press check lasted for almost whole day, many hard decision has been made. Now all 218 books are packed and ready to ship. I am so excited and nervous, when I saw all of them together for the first time, I was so happy and curious, I did not know how to react to them. Here are some photos from the press check. I was told that I am one of the pickiest person they have ever met. Honesty, I thought I had not even shown my pickyness yet, they should see how I order my breakfast...haha...

Fujian Province

2009-01-26T02:18:00.005-11:00

Yong Chun County, Fujian Province

My new obsession is drink tea. I have had drank more tea in the past one week than I have had in the past one year, I am feeling healthy and wake. The tea culture is phenomenal in Fujian province, everywhere I go, I am offered with a cup of finger-burning hot tea. During my trip in Xiamen, I have also learned how to make tea from the locals. There are a lot more steps of tea-making than open a package and dip dip, tea tastes much better without the bag.

While in Fujian Province, I made a special side trip north of Xiamen. After a three-hour bus ride, I arrived in Yong Chun Xian (a.k.a. Spring Forever County). It is a small town of 600,000 people, yes, it is small in China. My darling friend Lao Ying is originally from Yong Chun Xian and she invited me to stay with her for a day. In the morning, we climbed up to one of the highest peaks nearby and visited a monk-less temple, which has been taken care of by an old man. The old man of course had to stop me for a cup of tea - Iron Guanyin - a popular Wulong tea named after a Buddha, very light and a bit tart, best drink with some dried orange, which I have gotten the whole case from Lao Ying’s mother for a gift. Yummy!

The temple on the mountain is fantastic, the magnificent location, absolutely peaceful. Out of respect, I did not take too much photos of inside the temple, but even when I was trying to shoot some images in the dinning hall outside, temple keepers were getting a bit frustrated, they said they must clean up the whole temple before allowing me to photograph inside. They then offered me the best home grow mandarin oranges I have ever had, the local sweetness. Just imagine eating a Buddha blessed orange on the misty mountain balcony with the morning breeze. It was heavenly !

The Dish.

In this trip to Fujian Province, I have made two very special friends. Lao Ying and Tang Nannan, who I have met both during the Pingyao International Photography Festival, I was not able to chat with them much at the time, but in this trip, I had lunch and dinner with them almost everyday. They both had brought me to the most authentic places in Fujian, which I would not ever find it on my own. Lao Ying is a very young photographer who just graduated from Xiamen University, she is working as a freelance photographer and also working on her own projects including some very cute photo collages. Before I leave Xiamen, they brought me to a street front restaurant; we had this must-have The Dish where seafood cooked in a pan of red oil and mysteries. If you two are reading, I really appreciated your kindness.

PS: Sorry for the image quality, all taken with iPhone.

Xiamen

2009-01-18T20:19:00.006-11:00

Da Xiong, the Chow Chow

I arrived in Xiamen yesterday and the weather is perfect, it was 24C (75F), big contrast with the cold wet Shanghai. The sun was very bright, I met up with a photographer friend here and she brought me to visit the Xiamen University first. The university here is probably the best located campus ever in China, it is sort of on a higher hill with a white sandy beach as the backyard, how perfect! I have never seen any school with such a good Feng Shui.

In the last 2 days, all my meals are well under $3 and they are all fresh-made and very good. The city has little soup stands and home restaurants within every 2 steps, my favorite so far is the Tofu Flower (Tofu mixed with veggie, meat and unidentified stuffs).

Last night, I was invited to guest at a photographer's party in 32How, a local non-profit organization in Xiamen. I gave an artist talk following with a great discussion. Most photographers in the event are quite young and the work they showed were almost all related to the city of Xiamen. One thing I noticed in this city is everyone seems to be very very relaxed, people walk very casually on the street even in the early morning not-so-rush hour. See, if I am in a city with a beach in every direction, mountains and parks in the middle and noddle soups deserved to stop in every block, I'd walk like that, too.

The highlight of the night was actually in the coffee shop on the ground floor of 32How. The waitress was extremely sweet and friendly, as she hand picked one type of coffee beans for each of us. She came over to our seat and shaked the coffee beans three times in front us and let us stick our noses into the coffee beans and smells the different layers of the scent from the coffee. She absolutely refused to give me sugar, in the tone like "Please drink your coffee without sugar, it is better that way!" Hmm... It really was true, it was much better! One thing I like to say about the Chinese waitress (not waiter) is they don't really give a damn about what you want, they decide for you. It is same in Shanghai, same in Xiamen and even worse in Pingyao; in Pingyao, the waitress makes you feel very very small if you don't order what they ask.

Last but not least, I have to say something about the coolest dog I saw in Xiamen. While I visited artist Tang Nannan's studio, his overly friendly Tibetan Chow Chow named Da Xiaong (Big bear) was the heart melting fuzzball. Tang Nannan is a painter and photographer, his work is the most memorable at the photography talk last night, striking black and white street photography of the people in the neighborhoods he had lived in, they definitely reminded me Lisette Model's work. I will ask more of his work to post later when we bumping our rice wine bottles tonight. Stay tuned.

Auction at iGavel ends on Jan. 21st

2009-01-18T20:04:00.003-11:00

Dan T., New York, NY, 2008 © Shen Wei

The Emerging Photographers Auction presented by Daniel Cooney Fine Art on iGavel.com will be ended on Jan. 21st, only 3 days left. I have a photograph Dan T. also included in the auction. There are quite a few very interesting images on the auction as well and all of them are still in the very reasonable price, so please check them out.

The Spring Rush.

2009-01-10T07:44:00.016-11:00

The crowds at the train stations during The Spring Rush

The Spring Rush (a.k.a. Chunyun) is such a phenomenal event, it has its own Wikipedia page. It happens very year before and after the Chinese New Year which, in Chinese we call it the Spring Festival. The Spring Rush is the time while an overwhelmingly large number of migrates going back to or return from their hometown for the Chinese New Year, this movement costs the air, train and bus transportation system heavily overloaded and crowed in a period of 15 days before the Chinese New Year and 25 days after the Chinese New Year. It was estimated there were about 3 billion people traveled during the last year's Spring Rush.

If you are a native of Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou and a few other major migration cities in China. You probably never have to experience the Spring Rush, unless you work in other province. So, I basically have no idea about the Spring Rush until recent years when it becomes a bigger and bigger event and consistently became the headline news of the period. As I decided to spend my Chinese New Year with my family in Shanghai this year. I was naive enough to think I can also do a little bit of backpack traveling along the Yangtze River to shoot my Chinese Sentiment project. Everyone kind of laughed at me and suggested me perhaps to check out the train station before I pack my stuffs. The answer is always: "NO WAY!"

Except one person who brave enough to figure out the train adventure I have been dreaming about. That is my friend and travel companion Miss BaiBai. Luckily, the air tickets is not as demanded as the train tickets, we still managed to get a air tickets to Chongqing where the Three Gorges Dam is close by. BB is a world traveler, a filmmaker turn photographer, who has traveled to many brutal areas in the world, and worked for many A-list travel magazines. BB suggested we should take a train ride from central China back to Shanghai to experience the Spring Rush. Along with the suggestion, there is a few Gursky inspired images for my visual pleasure (above). First of all, I was scared, there is a lot of "what if", then it seems like such a rare adventure to take in China. So BB has pulled some of her connections to get a train tickets. OMG! I am already stressed out!

In contrast, my trip before the Chinese New Year has planned beautifully. I will visit Xiamen, a exotic southeast coast beach city, with a repetition as China's best city to live. I have already invited to present my work in an art event organized by 32HOW - a local creative organization, and stay in their newly opened 21Howtel. HOW FABULOUS!

I am heading to Shanghai on this Thursday, can't wait to see the city in the Spring spirit.

Brad Pitt by Chuck Close

2009-01-08T18:54:00.006-11:00

Above is the cover of the new W magazine. Brad Pitt seriously looks beat in Chuck Close's signature style. You got to give Bradley some credit, because these days stars just don't look like this on the cover of a fashion magazines, most of them are pursuing the wrinkle-less alien look. So this is rusty in the refreshing way.

I am in Texas now, warm and dry.

To have a comparison, here is another one by Martin Schoeller.

Cameron

2009-01-05T17:54:00.002-11:00

Today I watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off again. I am especially interested in the American teen movie from the late 80s' and early 90s', because I am curious about what the American teenage was doing when I was in the same age, which is very different. For example, when Farris took a day off in his high school senior year, spent a day dining in a fancy restaurant, watching baseball game, driving a Porsche, making out with a girl, I cannot related to any of them except I was a waiter in a fancy restaurant and been refused to take my father's scooter out for a ride. The real star of the movie for me is not Ferris, although he is awfully sweet, but I am much more related to Cameron, the teen who were fighting for his freedom of self-expression. The moment when he was gazing to the little person in Seurat's A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, I felt intensively what he is fighting with, it is a visceral moment. Teenage hood certainly is the most fantastic part of our life, no matter where you live.

This couple in my gym.

2009-01-03T21:56:00.012-11:00

The fun part of being a creative artist is to have the ability to turn everything interesting to a prudential project, at least in the brain for a moment. For example, like today, I went to my yoga class as usual, a woman in front of me is a VERY muscular individual, which normally you don't see a such in yogi environment. I am sure she can lift me up and spin if we are partnering. I felt her energy radiation throughout the whole class. I could not help staring at her, her back muscle is distracting, although I admire her supersaturated movement .

After class I saw she met up with her boyfriend who, indeed a perfect match to her, a typical bodybuilder, tall, handsome, very tanned and overly tight shirt. I was curious about them as a couple, and I was thinking they can be such a great couple for a photograph, just now I am imagining a picture of them drinking protein shaker together. Oh, wait, I bet someone has done that already. So I went online and did the Google. I once did a stupid thing. I Googled the Google (no, my monitor did not explode !). So, Google came up the list with Google on the top, then you click it in, it goes back to the main Google page I was Googling Google. The Internet is a vicious cycle.

Anyway, the result - I am not the only photographer obsessed on bodybuilders. There are loads of them on the Internet, as many as the parking lots and the gas station. Many modern masters and contemporary photographers have explored this subject. But why? Personally, I think they look unlike us, they are intimidating, I mean healthier. They represent the power and the confidence, they have a kind of authority if you work hard enough you might also get it, but most likely not. Then, they always appears lusty, sexual and textural (admit it, you want to touch!). They look heroic, think about the Hulk, the Superman, the Sistine Chapel. And maybe, the very important, they gave a sort of imagination and fantasy!

Making a Book.

2009-01-01T16:55:00.017-11:00

I have been making a book since last year. I have a good amount of work from the Almost Naked series, since the work has been exhibited and published numerous times in the US and China, I thought, why not make something intimate, like a book. Upon a limited budget, partially funded by LMCC and partially self invested, instead of making a thin little mass produced book, I wanted to create something different, something personal and collectible.

The process is rather interesting. I phoned my old boss in Shanghai to ask for some advices. He hired me when I was a 18 year old runaway boy, gave me a design assistant job in his printing tech company. We have discussed what's possible to make something very nice on a small budget, there were a lot of ideas on the table. Eventually I came up the idea of making a book looks like a personal portfolio. So here you see the pictures of the prototype I recently received. The concept is simple, a portfolio box with 25 individual prints in it.

The box design did not come easy either, I have done quite a bit research to find the perfect fabric for the box (yes, fabric covered box, fancy!). I am super happy with the gray I have on the box now, very chic, isn't it? The box is all custom made because of the size, 265mm x 202mm, not a standard size as I demanded. The box is built in with the magnum closure, silver linen paper interior and the black title graphic (why Victorian? Just like it.) on the top. The title graphic is going to be either screen printed (as shown in the picture) or embossed (more $$), it is a very big decision, so I need some time.

Of course, the most crucial part is to choose the images, it's easy to pick 25 of my favorite images from Almost Naked which now contains around 100 images, but I want all the images can live together harmonically in the little box. The final choices are all portraits, man, woman, old, young, gay, straight, white, black, Asian, Latino, everyone is included. I just got the yummy proof prints before Christmas. The proofs are all digital printed, that means I have an excuse to buy a tickets to China to do the press check. Last time I did a press check is for a real estate catalog which nothing on it I can afford, but this time after the press check, everything comes to my house, how exciting!

The reason I want to make a portfolio style book is to give the book my sense of personality. I love the process of from touch every material to witness the final packaging. The individual prints allow the viewers to look at all the prints side by side, or lay all of them on the table at once, make them converse with each other, just like an artist would do sometimes.

The best part, it is a very small limited edition, 218 editions only. I am also considering the idea of including an original print in the last 18 editions (#201-#218). They will all be signed and numbered.

As I am typing now in New York, I have heard all my 218 new born boxes are waiting patiently in Shanghai. The printing date will be scheduled in early 2009. So, if you have any suggestion, please let me know, my goal is to make this book as nice as I can. Keep tuned for more news on this book.

Have a sharp and bright 2009, and more.

2008-12-31T20:22:00.011-11:00

It was hard to think of what I should post for my first blog entry of the new year, then I saw this ring. WOW. I am totally in love it. As the designer Tobias Wong described "It’s romantic because it means, 'Will you marry me' but it also means, 'I can’t always be there to protect you so if some jerk won’t stop bothering you, puncture him with this.'" I will just get engaged for this ring, I will marry 2009 with this ring, it is going to be a sharp and bright year.

2008 has not failed America, both athletically and politically. I am not gonna let that little pervert called "recession" bothering me too much, now we have both Obama and Hilary in Washington, everyone should have some hope, well, maybe not everyone. And thanks to that 52.1% of the voters in California, some people can't be able to wear this ring yet officially, hope 2009 is the year every couple in America can enjoy the equal rights.

Last but not the least, I wish my home country China has less tragedy, both naturally and man-made. As for my own personal new year resolution, there are quite a few - perhaps spend more time with family, take more good photographs, feed my dog less junk food, read books, kiss more, pray more and be able to do Tittibhasana or more. If you are still reading my blab, I wish you a very Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-24T11:36:00.001-11:00

Ｄrawing by Michael Bilsborough

2008-12-22T19:19:00.007-11:00

"Safety in Numbers" (2005)

My new discover is a new SVA alum Michael Bilsborough, his drawing is phenomenal.

As real As it gets.

2008-12-21T17:32:00.006-11:00

Adobe Photoshop CS4 Ad. by bates 141
(click the image to enlarge)

Cindy Sherman

2008-12-21T11:39:00.003-11:00

Cindy Sherman is having two exhibitions in New York right now. Here is a Vince Aletti's review on The New Yorker.

Time Warp

2008-12-20T21:45:00.004-11:00

If you like Dr. Harold Edgerton's work, you will most likely enjoy this program by Discovery Channel called Time Warp. Finally I figured out how my dog gets water into her mouth. It's fascinating!

The Hotness that is...

2008-12-17T14:09:00.004-11:00

RuPaul as Obamas.

Best Sports Photos of 2008

2008-12-15T20:47:00.008-11:00

I don't usually read Sports Illustrated except their Picture of the Year issue (yeah, it's that time of the year), which is out now. I have recently developed a love for sports photography, perhaps because of the Olympics. The issue certainly has no shortage of the reporting from Beijing, as well as a very moving image from Wenchuan, China where the earthquack hit in May this year. And of course, just another picture of Michael "who's talking now" Phelps on the cover. There are many photos I really love, especially those are more about humanity. Emilio Morenatti's wrestling picture is amony some of my favorites, it is almost too beautiful and sensual for the normally ultra energetic magazine, of course, besides that infamous swimming suit issue.

American Photo Image of the Year 2008

2008-12-13T21:20:00.004-11:00

Just received American Photo magazine Image of the Year 2008 issue. I was surprised to see my work won Honorable Mention in the Personal Work category. This is the second time I have been included in this category (last time was in 2006 for my portraits from Almost Naked). This year, I send in some work from my on-going project Chinese Sentiment.

A nice spark in a cold and rainy weekend.

Xu Weixin

2008-12-11T19:00:00.002-11:00

I stopped at China Square this afternoon and saw the gigantic oil paintings of Xu Weixin. They are absolutely gorgeous, over the top with a sense of sweetness.

Yijun Liao is a Hot Shot!

2008-12-09T17:41:00.003-11:00

I am very excited for my good friend Yijun Liao to be selected as a new member of the Hey, Hot Shot! Also a native of Shanghai, Yijun Liao studied photography at University of Memphis. I first saw Liao's photographs was at a workshop I gave at the University of Memphis in October, she was about to finish her MFA. I was especially drawn into her thesis series Experimental Relationship, she is one brave Chinese girl.

You can go see her work at:
Hey, Hot Shot! (volume iv, edition ii) Showcase
Opening reception: Friday, January 30th, 2009,
6-8 pm at Jen Bekman Gallery
6 Spring Street, NYC.
Work will be on view until Saturday, February 14th, 2009

Bare at Michael Mazzeo Gallery

2008-12-05T21:12:00.008-11:00

I am so pleased to be included in this very seductive exhibition with a group of extraordinary photographers. The reception will be held at the gallery on Thursday, December 11, from 6PM to 8PM. Hope to see you there.

MICHAEL MAZZEO GALLERY

DECEMBER 11 - JANUARY 24
BARE
Curated by
JÖRG M. COLBERG
Featuring Artist:
Amy Elkins, Rachael Dunville, Ethan Aaro Jones, Richard Learoyd,
Jennifer Loeber, Hellen van Meene, Josh Quigley, Richard Renaldi,
Jessica Roberts, Alec Soth, Shen Wei, and Carmen Winant

Lianzhou Photo Festival

2008-12-05T09:46:00.006-11:00

The 2008 Lianzhou International Photo Festival will be open in Lianzhou, Guangdong Province tomorrow (today in China). The Lianzhou Photo Festival is one of the two most important photo festivals in China, the another one is Pingyao Photo Festival. While Pingyao is widely popular among photographers in all level, Lianzhou holds a higher standard and more critical acclaimed.

Keeping the Chinese photo festival tradition, the photographs will be displayed in factory/warehouse converted gallery spaces in small village setting; for example, my work was exhibited in Cotton Factory and Diesel Engine Factory, this time in Lianzhou my project Almost Naked will have a solo exhibition at the Granary, unique indeed. I actually really love the gigantic industrial gallery setting in these festivals, it is interesting to look at the contrasty juxtapose of the large greasy machines and the perfectly leveled pictures, I even saw small art work were directly attached on the rusty metal machines. But the best part is after the sun goes down, hundreds of photographers parties all night long in the local coffee shops and bars where the endless rice wines, shrimp chips and handmade moon-cakes are served.

Semiotics of the Kitchen by Martha Rosler

2008-12-04T15:11:00.004-11:00

I went to the lecture "Street Art/Street Life" last night, it is one of the lecture series organized by Aperture and Parsons. But I was really going there to see the brilliant and colorful Martha Rosler. Rosler's presentation was the most fascinating for me and she is funny as hell. I have studied Martha Rosler's work when I was in college, her series of transportation sites taught me how to look at the banal in a different perspective. And I just love her video work as well, they are the classics indeed.

Juliana Beasley Holiday Sale. (Updated)

2008-12-02T09:09:00.008-11:00

My friend Juliana Beasley is presently offering a holiday sale. Three images from "Last Stop: Rockaway Park" are on sale and are all well priced. They are editions of 15 with 2 APs. All photos are 18X18" with image size at 14.5x14.5". You can contact Juliana for more detail.

TOMY xiao™ + ZINE

2008-12-01T12:09:00.007-11:00

Check out this new toy for the saddened Polaroid fans! A 5 Megapixel digital camera with a build-in color printer! The camera is made by Japanese toy company Takara Tomy, they named the invention Xiao™, means "small" in Chinese, I suppose the "small" is referred to the picture size, not the camera. Although the Xiao™ is no Polaroid, and I don't really see the big deal of it. When I had my first laptop, it was an IBM with a "build-in" printer, it is actually a small tube shaped roll paper printer attached on the back of the laptop, and well, I don't remember when was the last time I see that thing anywhere. That being said, Xiao™ is definitely going to be a big party monster.

Shanghai in 2474

2008-11-28T21:42:00.004-11:00

While the entire city of Shanghai is preparing the EXPO 2010 - China's first world's fair. I found this very cute poster online, illustrated by artist Steve Thomas. The poster is suppose to made for celebrating the 500 years of Shanghai's commerce success and to advertise the Shanghai World's Fair in 2474. Very creative and humorous indeed. The only thing is the skyline in this poster is already an old skyline of Shanghai. I would guess he made this sometime between 2006-2007.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T10:33:00.004-11:00

Canned Cranberries! .... a perfect match to your Tofurkey!

Florence & Venice

2008-11-07T07:45:00.004-11:00

My Renaissance Marathon continued in Florence and Venice. The bus driver “accidentally” dropped me off on the hill outside of the old town of Florence, which turned out to be a magical experience. The walk down to the hill was a therapeutically break from the endless paintings and statues; it was cool, refreshing and extremely calm. Half way down at hill, I saw a view of the red roofed Florence, in the mist of light rain, dreamful indeed. I had taken the opportunity to image myself as an ancient young artist hiking in the tights and bubble shorts, with a sword on my waist, walking towards to a risky exciting future. Until I see the giant greenish copy of David dominating at the center of the Piazza Michelangelo ahead of me, while Japanese tourists were giggling and running back forwards snapping away their memories.

Venice looks exactly like all the postcards I’ve seen in my life. Everything is within the expectation, the bridges, the shops, the boats and the overpricing. I like to get lost in Venice, that’s generally how surprises were discovered. I spotted a tiny red lantern instantly from the far distance among all the flashy signs on a small street from the Piazza San Marco. A hidden Chinese restaurant seems like in the deepest dead-ended lane in the whole universe, by universe, I mean pizzas. At the 3 o’clock in the afternoon, I was the only one in the restaurant, enjoying an egg roll and the fighting between two Cantonese waitresses.

Rome

2008-11-02T19:04:00.002-11:00

Buongiorno da Roma!

It is the 3rd day of my Italy trip; it somehow feels like 2 weeks. I could not believe how many things I have seen in just 3 days, it is like Art History course all over again, but a much better one.

I spent my first morning in Italy to The Vatican City; a dream comes true for me to see Michelangelo’s glorious Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. In the rest of my Roma tour, every church I walked in, every fountain I sat by, and there is something by Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini, or Caravaggio. The city of Roma is a gigantic museum.

My favorite so far is the Piazza Navona, with Bernini’s most famous fountain the Four Rivers Fountain in the center of the square, surrounded by a square of lavish ancient architectures. I had a pizza there and a chat with an old lady who seems to have sat there for the last few centuries, she talked Italian non stop to me, somehow I understood a little bit of it.

Of course, I had to go see The Colosseum along with The Roman Forum. I had done some research by watching the film Gladiator on the plane. It rained a bit when I was walking through the Forum, it felt romantically lonely.

PDN30 on Kodak Jumbotron Time Square

2008-10-22T14:57:00.011-11:00

Kodak is presenting a program on their Time Square Jumbotron - The New Faces of Photography: 2008 Photo District News Photographers. The program will be run through November 10th.

I went over to Time Square late this afternoon and it was quite surreal for me to look at my work showing in the middle of the Time Square. The program started with the title and the alphabetical list of the name of the 2008 PDN 30 photographers. The motion graphic of the presentation was very clean and impressive, it displays 4 photographs per each photographer which you can see from the video below. If you walk by Time Square in the next 2 and a half weeks, please check it out! I have made a video on my camera showing below, you can also see the situation shots here.

Chinese Sentiment Updated.

2008-10-14T21:55:00.003-11:00

I have updated my website and added some new work from China. Please check it out and comments are more than welcome.

Sunset in Taiyuan.

2008-10-12T20:26:00.006-11:00

A new photo from China.

Memphis lecture and leisure weekend

2008-10-05T17:10:00.001-11:00

I was invited by the University of Memphis Photography Society to give a lecture and a workshop this weekend. My lecture on Friday night had a fantastic group of audiences from the university Department of art and the Photography Society. The lecture started with a brief introduction, I then presented the Almost Naked series followed with a Q&A session filled with a lot of very interesting questions. Raleigh Rodger, the president of the Photo Society hosted a reception for me in her beautiful house, at there I made many new friends.

The workshop on Saturday was very interactive. The MFA photo students and advanced undergraduate photo students presented their projects; I decide to have the workshop emphasizes on the conceptual development of the project rather than the critique on the individual images. I loved many work presented in the workshop, some are very inspirational. We also had discussion on some other subjects such as portfolio and gallery. I received great responses from the students after the workshop; it is heartwarming for me to know that the students appreciated the class. I have in fact learned so much from them as well.

Memphis is a very characteristic city. I spent some leisure time in the hip Midtown area and a very happening downtown. I visited Memphis briefly many years ago and it seems like the downtown area has change a lot, except the same old soulful Beale Street. Did I mention the delicious southern food? I left NYC without much sleep because of the jet lag, the trip started with a delayed flight, but the rest of the trip turned out to be a blast. I just want to thank everyone in the lecture and workshop to give me a wonderful time in Memphis, especially Raleigh, Pixy and Chase, thank you guys for bringing me around. It was a wonderful experience!

Pingyao Photo Festival 2008

2008-09-23T02:50:00.013-11:00

Chinese Sentiment @ Eyes on China Exhibition

The night before the opening at Diesel Engine Factory

Almost Naked @ Kunst.Licht

The Pingyao International Photography Festival (PIP) started on September 19th. The exhibitions are located in the walled Pingyao old town. The old town looks very authentic with a funny little city outside. The locals are extremely friendly, they offer me some of the best noodles. It is very crowd here and everyone seems to carry a fancy camera with them. It was exciting to look through the endless exhibitions and meeting all the friends from all over the world, people who I knew and people I have linked through various situation.

I have work show in two different location this year. My Shanghai gallery Kunst.Licht has a gallery space in Cotton Factory where the rough constructed hotel-like spaces are temporary converted to galleries. Some of my Almost Naked work are displayed here. In another location – Diesel Engine Factory, one of my favorite exhibition space in Pingyao, was transformed from abandoned factories. There are giant machines still standing in the space, the floor is sandy, the entire interior becomes a very dramatic contrast to the contemporary photography. Four images from my on-going series Chinese Sentiment are showing in a group show titled Eyes on China, curated by Ren Yue, a Chinese photo critic, writer and educator .

It is hard to concentrate on exhibitions in Pingyao. I only had three days, so I was constantly running between exhibitions, touring and gathering (a.k.a. piles of dishes, handmade moon-cake and local beer). I believe I only visited a small portion of the festival so far but had quite a few great moments of discovering some of my favorite photographers among this craziness. Most international photographers are showing at the Warehouse area which I did not have enough time to go.

Update: The Pingyao Photo Festival committee anounced today that I am one of the winners of the Excellent International Photographer Award (评委推荐奖).

Almost Naked Exhibition

2008-09-18T03:16:00.018-11:00

My solo exhibition Almost Naked had opened at Kunst Licht Gallery in Shanghai on September 13, 2008. Twenty images from the series are on display as well as a slide show of complete series. Special thanks to Sven, Lin Yun and Sabrine’s hard work to make it happen. The gallery is located in a French Concession old house, I especially liked the poster of Yemi and James peeping from the street front windows. Attached is some installation of the exhibition.

I am now at the city of Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi Province in central China, well known for its mining business. It is about one hour and a half from Pingyao where the photo festival will be.

Solo Exhibition in Shanghai.

2008-08-29T20:08:00.004-11:00

I am very pleased to announce my first solo exhibition in China will be open on September 13, 2008 at 3pm at Kunst.Licht Gallery in Shanghai. The exhibition will run through November 30th. If you happen to be in Shanghai, please check out the show.

Where is Pingyao?

2008-08-28T18:30:00.006-11:00

Pingyao City Wall

The famous Red Lanterns

I have been asked quite a few times about Pingyao recently? That’s because the 2008 Pingyao International Photography Festival is next month and it is the largest photo festival in China. Last year, Robert Frank’s exhibition at the festival became an national news, even more dramatically, Frank had fainted for a short while in a local restaurant at the festival. It was steamy hot and he ordered hot and sour soup (YUM). This year’s festival will include exhibitions by ICP. Contact Image, National Geography, etc., as well as many Chinese and foreign galleries. My friend Amy Elkins will have a solo exhibition and Amy Stein will be in a group show in the festival, I expect to see more familia names from the US. My work from Chinese Sentiment will also be included in a group show titled “Gazing China.”, my Shanghai gallery Kunst.Licht will show my Almost Naked series in the festival as well.

So where is Pingyao? It is at the center of Shanxi province. The city is established in BC 782, and was rebuilt and expanded in 1370 during Ming Dynasty. The walled ancient city is especially known for its architecture, both the 12 miles long wall around the city and the local houses. One of my favorite movie, Zhang Yimou’s Raising the Red Lantern was filmed in Pingyao. As I was told, all photographs will be hang in the original ancient houses, this just sounds too cool to be true. Anyway, I will go to Pingyao in two weeks and I am full of curiosity.