Ren Hang was a self-taught, Beijing-based photographer. A new exhibition, "19 Photographs," is the first exhibition of Ren Hang's work since his death in February.
Ren Hang was a self-taught, Beijing-based photographer. A new exhibition, "19 Photographs," is the first exhibition of Ren Hang's work since his death in February.
courtesy kwm art center
While the photos featured in the exhibition contain tropes often associated with Ren's work, like the use of animals, the curators hope to shine a new light on the late photographer's work.
While the photos featured in the exhibition contain tropes often associated with Ren's work, like the use of animals, the curators hope to shine a new light on the late photographer's work.
courtesy kwm art center
The images are taken from a larger show by the same organizers, "Beauty Without Beards," which had opened in Beijing two weeks before the Ren's death.
The images are taken from a larger show by the same organizers, "Beauty Without Beards," which had opened in Beijing two weeks before the Ren's death.
courtesy kwm art center
Composed largely of male nudes taken between 2010 and 2016, the new exhibition features some of the last Ren prints to be authenticated.
Composed largely of male nudes taken between 2010 and 2016, the new exhibition features some of the last Ren prints to be authenticated.
courtesy of kwm art center
"We wanted to choose photos that emphasize how Ren Hang used human body as a compositional element," said one of the show's curators, Zhang Yuling. Scroll through the gallery of more photos by Ren Hang.
"We wanted to choose photos that emphasize how Ren Hang used human body as a compositional element," said one of the show's curators, Zhang Yuling. Scroll through the gallery of more photos by Ren Hang.
courtesy kwm art center
His color-blasted, abstract erotic snapshots made him one of Asia's most popular contemporary artists.
His color-blasted, abstract erotic snapshots made him one of Asia's most popular contemporary artists.
Ren Hang
Ren Hang was known for his sexually expressive, often absurd images ...
Ren Hang was known for his sexually expressive, often absurd images ...
Stieglitz19
... which the artist said come from his own stream of consciousness. <br />
... which the artist said come from his own stream of consciousness.
Ren Hang
In Ren Hang's imagination, everything was an uninhibited metaphor for desire. Even plants and pools of water are charged with lust.<br />
In Ren Hang's imagination, everything was an uninhibited metaphor for desire. Even plants and pools of water are charged with lust.
Ren Hang
Ren pares away the backgrounds, leaving few distractions for his abstract human sculptures.<br />
Ren pares away the backgrounds, leaving few distractions for his abstract human sculptures.
Ren Hang
Ren's models were usually naked and pale Chinese youths, wearing blasé expressions. He would often shoot his own friends, and sometimes photographs fans who apply online.
Ren's models were usually naked and pale Chinese youths, wearing blasé expressions. He would often shoot his own friends, and sometimes photographs fans who apply online.
Ren Hang
Mirjam Kooiman, who curated Ren's works for a at Amsterdam photography museum Foam, believes the photographs represent freedom. "It's visual poetry. It's without limits," she says
Mirjam Kooiman, who curated Ren's works for a at Amsterdam photography museum Foam, believes the photographs represent freedom. "It's visual poetry. It's without limits," she says
Stieglitz19
10 graphic warning single
"His treatment of the body is so without boundaries. There's no hierarchy between the female and the male model in his work," Kooiman adds. "It's very telling about these tendencies of sexuality and queerness in Chinese society and how his generation is dealing with it."<br />
"His treatment of the body is so without boundaries. There's no hierarchy between the female and the male model in his work," Kooiman adds. "It's very telling about these tendencies of sexuality and queerness in Chinese society and how his generation is dealing with it."
Ren Hang
Many critics interpret Ren Hang's art as socially charged -- either a bold stance against censorship or a middle finger in the face of Chinese conservatism.<br />
Many critics interpret Ren Hang's art as socially charged -- either a bold stance against censorship or a middle finger in the face of Chinese conservatism.
Ren Hang
The photographer says he has never thought of art as having a political message. "I don't have a motivation," he told CNN Style previously. "I don't know about others, but I'm sure I don't look at art that way."<br />
The photographer says he has never thought of art as having a political message. "I don't have a motivation," he told CNN Style previously. "I don't know about others, but I'm sure I don't look at art that way."
Stieglitz19
Ren had been arrested multiple times in China and his photos have been defaced at exhibitions, or confiscated by officials.
Ren had been arrested multiple times in China and his photos have been defaced at exhibitions, or confiscated by officials.
Stieglitz19
Even his websites have been pulled offline.
Even his websites have been pulled offline.
Ren Hang