Mountains and rivers are very significant for the Chinese people. In this country, there is a cultural awareness that says mountains are “virtuous” and rivers are “moral.”
I was inspired to carry out this project after reading the novel Rivers of the North by Zhang Chengzhi. The book is written in a stream-of-consciousness style and its story follows the paths of many rivers across China. Attracted by the powerful words of the novel, I decided to take a walk along the Yellow River in order to find the root of my soul. Along the way, the calm flow of my mind became flooded with the hectic thoughts and ceaseless stream of reality. I felt a profound pessimism.
Nevertheless, as a vast country with a long history, China’s future is always bright. The country has food for its people and the power of creation that can cultivate strong citizens. From this point of view, it seems, the future is optimistic.
Trying to balance these two sides, my new work explores the landscapes of China, capturing the ecology of its magnificent natural phenomena. The tiny human figures, insignificant when set against the vast natural forms, are inspired by Chinese artistic tradition. My aim is to create a modern point of contact for our contemporary and sociologically concerned eye.
Zhang Kechun, born in 1980 in Sichuan province, China. He now lives and works in Chengdu. He won the National Geographic Picks Global Prize in 2008, was nominated by Three Shadow Photo Award in 2012, nominated by Sony World Photography Awards in 2012 and 2013, nominated by the Prix HSBC Pour la Photographie 2014. 2014 Daylight photo Award. 2014 Arles Photo Festival Discovery Award. His works were exhibited on 2012 CAFAM-Future Exhibition, 2013 Beijing Photo Biennial, 2013 PHOTOQUAI World Photography Biennale, 2014 Arles Photo Festival, 2014 Beijing +3 Gallery solo exhibition. His works were reported by many medias, such as Time, BBC News, Telegraph Magazine, China Photo Magazine and so on.
© Pictures and text by Zhang Kechun