Realm of Flow

The project commenced in late 2022, as the COVID-19 pandemic was subsiding in China. After nearly three years of experimental work outside the realm of conventional photography, the artist chose to reintegrate into photography for new reflections. Titled Realm of Flow, the series chronicles the artist’s move to Milan in early 2022, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his residency and academic pursuits. In this phase, the artist chose photography as the medium to explore identity cognition. Originally a photographer who ventured into contemporary art, the artist's previous works extended beyond traditional photography, reflecting his personal journey. Born in a northern Chinese city but long settled in the southwest, his life and art have constantly been in flux. This series, predominantly using flash photography, focuses on the mundane scenes of daily life. However, these ordinary moments take on an absurd and detached quality in the photographs. From living spaces to environmental contexts, the artist seeks to delve into personal identity and its relationship to the environment. Throughout the process, the artist reflects on his own identity, exploring the dynamic interplay between the individual and their surroundings. Through the lens of photography, he captures the fleeting, subtle moments of everyday life, emphasizing the constant flux between personal identity and environmental influence. Realm of Flow serves as a visual meditation on identity, offering a window into the artist's ongoing search for self within an ever-changing world. The work reflects not only a personal journey but also a universal question of how our environment shapes and reshapes our sense of self over time.