Shen Wei, a Shanghai born fine art photographer, who
is currently based in New York City, known for his intimate portraits of
himself and others. His photography work has also covered some exploration of
contemporary China. His name was first introduced to me by my course lecturer
cum fine art photographer, Ms. Ho.
Nudity in photography is not new. It has been the
source of inspirations since the first day of photography being introduced.
However, the publication and exhibition of these photographs may still be
controversial. I am open to nude photography as I see it as an idea to depict
some kind of freedom in mind in a visual aspect. Varied angles, poses and
action could define different emotion and stories.
Almost Naked – One of Wei’s photography series, consists of
portraits exploring identity and sexuality in America. It was motivated by his
passion to understand the complexity of emotion, desire, introspection and
instinct. In this series, he sought to explore the relation between nudity in
mind and physical nudity. In my opinion, some people tend to feel more relaxed
and comfortable without wearing any clothes. The emotion flows naturally when
people are relaxed.
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| James, 2007 |
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| Hyramd, 2005 |
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| Collin and Erica, 2007 |
Wei has another self-portrait project – I Miss You Already, capturing the
process of self-reflection and self-discovery. These photographs include his
introspection, rebellion, memory, fantasy, anxiety, seduction and emptiness. I
like the way he put himself into the frames as a journey to understand and
discover his inner self.
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| Self-portrait (Angkor), 2012 |
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| Self-portrait (Float), 2013 |
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| Self-portrait (New York), 2010 |
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| Self-portrait (Sunroom), 2010 |
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| Self-portrait (Pool), 2010 |
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| Self-portrait (Syracuse), 2010 |
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| Self-portrait (Woodstock), 2010 |
