Glorious Life --- Wang Qingsong

by DIGI, Czech Art Magazine, 2004

Which camera (or cameras) do you use now and with which camera had you started your photographic work? WQS: Now I use 8 by 10 camera. Before I used many different kinds of camera from 35mm Minota automatic camera to 4 by 5 camera. Now I use only 8 by 10 large camera for shooting the photographs. You also use digital treatment on your photos. Can you give us more technical details about it? WQS: Yes, in my early photographs, I used more computer digital treatment. Only when I felt that I had to use photoshop, I would use it. In my early photographic works, I minimized figures to show the less importance, cropped some unnecessary parts and filled in the imperfect parts with what I felt much better stuff. I don’t like to use computer technique now. I try to avoid using computer technique to the minimum right now. Which camera (or cameras) do you use now and with which camera had you started your photographic work? WQS: Now I use 8 by 10 camera. Before I used many different kinds of camera from 35mm Minota automatic camera to 4 by 5 camera. Now I use only 8 by 10 large camera for shooting the photographs. You also use digital treatment on your photos. Can you give us more technical details about it? WQS: Yes, in my early photographs, I used more computer digital treatment. Only when I felt that I had to use photoshop, I would use it. In my early photographic works, I minimized figures to show the less importance, cropped some unnecessary parts and filled in the imperfect parts with what I felt much better stuff. I don’t like to use computer technique now. I try to avoid using computer technique to the minimum right now. Prisoner, 1998 Thinker, 1998 Who was your photographic example? The critics compare you wit French duo Pierre and Gilles. WQS: I think I don’t have photographic examples in particular. If something ever makes influence on me, I think Chinese revolutionary posters and realistic ideas presented in Model Opera in 1960s-70s because I was educated in this kind of artistic ideas. I choose what fits my ideas and shoot in photograph. Each of my art works is shot to the topics and concerns I care about even if people find similarities of my works to those of Jeff Koons, Pierre and Gilles, Jeff Wall, Cindy Sherman, and etc, to name just a few, most of whom are unfamiliar to me. It is logical that they think as such because photography was invented in the west. It is more important for the critics and myself that they can identify my art works at first sight. They know my own features and styles too. You have started your artistic career as a painter. I have read that you did not want to take the photos, because the photo’s technology came to China from the west, but then you realized that the oil colors are also a western invention. Seeing your person just from this point, it sounds like you really do not like the western culture. WQS: Yes, I studied oil painting in the fine arts academy and I did not like photography that much at the very beginning. When I found my art works would be expressed much better with photography, I switched to applying this media. Of course, one can read and find my education in painting in terms of constructing the photograph more completely and in nice colors.I never negated western culture though I favor more realistic art works than abstract paintings in the west. I care least the art forms that western painters care most. Maybe it has something to do with the realistic education in China.   Another battle series no.8, 2001 Thorny Ivy, 2004 Czech republic belongs to the countries of the post-communistic Eastern Europe, but the system changed there 15 years ago. China is still communistic country, even the conditions are better than a few years ago, and much better than during Mao’s domination. There is going to be an exhibition in London of a Chinese photographer Li Zhengsheng, who refused to destroy his photos from the Cultural Revolution. But you belong to modern artists. What are yours experiences with the communistic system in China? WQS: I don’t like politics. I only express my attitudes on culture at the current social setting. Even if China has never separated between politics and culture since its founding, my art works focus more on culture and try to avoid politics. Though my works can not be seen in government-run museums, sometimes they can be seen in public places like gallery space in China. Have you ever have any problems with the communists because of your work? The communists are against the religion, but you took some photos with this topic. WQS: Sometimes people misread and misinterpret my art works. This is not a bad thing for me. Actually I often use Buddhism not from its religious sense. Rather I look at its cultural significance in this commercial society. Therefore it should have no conflicts with communists who sometimes take my art works as anti-capitalism. Just like you “misread” my art works as anti-religion, I feel it is good too since people have all different interpretations based on their own life and social experiences. I have a feeling from your photos that you are against the globalization. But is not another side of the globalization the fait that you can show your photos at the exhibitions in Europe, in USA? WQS: I feel my art works are not simply anti-globalization. People in China need communication and open-up after so long time of closure. So in this sense I think globalization is a good thing. I am against too much dependence on western stuff because it brings forth a lot of social conflicts and confusion to people. For example, McDonald’s opens one franchise store in three days which is a very strange thing. It brings out a lot of terrible confusion not only in China but also in the United States if such things happen. This globalization will not be acceptable to anyone in the world. I am sure Czech people will get crazy and troubled if such things happen in Czech Repulic too. Tramp, 2004 I have a feeling from your photos that you are against the globalization. But is not another side of the globalization the you can show your photos at the exhibitions in Europe, in USA? WQS: I feel my art works are not simply anti-globalization. People in China need communication and open-up after so long time of closure. So in this sense I think globalization is a good thing. I am against too much dependence on western stuff because it brings forth a lot of social conflicts and confusion to people. For example, McDonald’s opens one franchise store in three days which is a very strange thing. It brings out a lot of terrible confusion not only in China but also in the United States if such things happen. This globalization will not be acceptable to anyone in the world. I am sure Czech people will get crazy and troubled if such things happen in Czech Repulic too. these years. I often find missed stuff when I look back at my art works previously done. We say in the Czech republic if we see a falling star that we can make a wish, which will become the true. When I have seen your photo Look up! it reminded me this superstition – Look the Coca cola is falling – make a wish. What should be your wish if you see a falling star? WQS: China has this similar superstition as Czech republic. I often make wishes though they never came true. Now I still make wishes that my art works can be produced successfully and more people can see and understand my art works. The first major wish is of course, that I can live longer to produce more and better art works.