"CHEMICAL LANDSCAPE"
July 7, 2007 - August 17, 2007
Zheng Nong Solo Exhibition:
Artist's Reception: Saturday July 7, 5 - 7 pm
m97 Gallery is pleased to present "Chemical Landscape", a solo photography exhibition by Beijing-based photographer Zheng Nong. "Chemical Landscape" is an experimental body of color photographs in which the artist has created virtual landscapes on film from the chemical reaction of exposing color film directly to light. The artist has deliberately broken the boundaries of the familiar viewfinder and experimented with more unconventional realms of the film plane resulting in surreal landscapes blurring the boundaries of fact and fiction. These lush, futuristic landscapes captivate the viewer with exploding fiery sunsets and electric yellow skyscapes. "Chemical Landscape" technically and aesthetically presents us with a purity and freshness and an organic sense of imagination that emanates from the almost zen-like manner in which the photographs were made.
When considering the current trends of digital manipulation in contemporary photography, Zheng Nong's "Chemical Landscape" creates a pure and perfect combination for a fantastical reality to both please and deceive the viewer. But by returning to the most fundamental aspects of photography - the "chemical" reaction of light directly striking film - Zheng Nong's series of landscapes involve no digital manipulation and appear more to be an alchemic explosion resulting in a world of virtual, abstract landscapes. Like the photographs themselves, Zheng Nong's work is a further exploration of new frontiers in contemporary photography, merging tradition with innovation and experimentation. "Chemical Landscape" is the fruit of an artist's exploration and discovery, and is a testament to the endless imagination and pursuit of possibility for the contemporary photographer.
Born in Dalian, Liaoning Province, Zheng Nong first studied graphic design at the Central Academy of Arts and Design in Beijing and then turned his attention to photography. In 1997, Zheng Nong published a collection of photographs taken during travels through China titled "Walking Bystander". In 1999 a selection of his photographs were included in the exhibition and book "China: Fifty Years Inside the People's Republic," organized by New York-based Aperture Foundation with other renowned photographers such as Sebastiao Salgado and Robert Capa. Other group exhibitions of his work include "Re(-) Viewing the City", 2005 Guangzhou Photo Biennial, (China); the 2005 International Photography Festival of Rome, (Italy); FotoFreo 2006 Fremantle Festival of Photography, (Australia). His photographs are included in collections such as the Asia Society and Aperture Foundation in New York.
For additional photographs or other media queries, please contact m97 Gallery at: info@m97gallery.com or by phone: (+8621) 6266.1597. Tuesday-Sunday 10:30-18:30.
A 52-page "Chemical Landscape" catalog is available for purchase online or at the gallery. Published by m97 Gallery | Shanghai, 2007.
100 rmb / $13 USD / 10 Euros + shipping
