From October 5th to December 30th, Phot’Aix in Aix-en-Provence welcomes China: the works of five Chinese photographers paired with five French photographers are being shown in the old Collège des Prêcheurs and in the Aix-en-Provence town centre. The photographer answers some questions about his work.
When did you get your first camera and what did you do with it?
My fist camera was a Hasselblad which I got in 2016. Before that it was my photographer friends who photographed me during my performances.
For you, what is the role of the artist?
The artist is a great cultural observer and is sensitive to society. He must make the understanding and perception of society and humanity easier.
What’s the most important thing in your work: the performance or the photography produced?
The final photograph is the most important: we live in the image era, where the real and the unreal coexist, as my images show.
To what subjects are you most sensitive?
First of all I’m sensitive to human beauty, the beauty of the free spirit, to that which our society makes use of for the betterment of society. I look for humanity’s beauty in the times in which we live.
Has the success that made you a globally well-known Chinese artist changed your connection with the world and humanity?
My relationship with others and with the world haven’t changed, I’m just an ordinary person who’s part of the human race.
Ai Wei Wei is known as the “photographer breaker of vases”, you are known to the world as the “photographer who flies”: do you imagine a day when you will break away from this image?
I don’t want to pay too much attention to what others think of my image. I’m going to let my heart express itself freely. I only want to be free to express myself, to talk about my understanding of society and human nature. Of course, there could be changes in my forms of expression in the future.
Do you think you’re freer than Chinese who don’t fly?
I’m in search of freedom. The beauty of the free spirit is passed on to humanity. I don’t want my freedom to be impeded, limited; I don’t compare myself to others.
And finally, do you still continue to dream that you fly…?
I’ll continue to fly. Human beings have always dreamt of flying. This way humanity can get rid of all the forces that imprison it. The world doesn’t have routes, and at present, mankind is constrained from advancing on narrow routes… but you can take off into the air. That way you see a much greater world!
Phot’Aix
From 5th October to 30th December 2017
In the streets of Aix-en-Provence
France
