ZHONG Q​i

Biography

b.1981, Shanghai, China.

In 2013, I embarked on my photography career with no prior experience. Prior to that, I never had any professional photography training or education, nor had I engaged in any work related to images or art. Since 2019, I ventured into directing, with a focus on film narration. Philosophy, history, and classical music all subtly influence my artistic creation.

"The Ganges River Sand" is my initial work in my photography career, yet it has been a tremendous inspiration for me. The work held its inaugural large-scale solo exhibition in 2015, which was attended by the top official of the Indian Consulate in Shanghai, who delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. Subsequently, the works were featured in National Geographic (China region) and became the main poster for the 2018 National Geographic Global Photography Competition in China  (Holi II, Mathura, 2015). Two works from the series (The Ganges River Sand - Cover Picture Nº1, 2013)  (The Ganges River Sand  - Cover Picture Nº2, 2014)  were exhibited at the MIA Photo Fair 2019.

Since then, rivers and water flows, have become significant elements and themes in my artistic creation.

In 2018, I shifted my focus to the Yangtze River, the longest river in China. In 2023, I completed the narrative "Theater of the Yangtze River ™" series, adopting an eastern philosophical perspective through observation and reflection. A piece from this series (Chapter I - II, 2021)  was exhibited at the Le Salon D'Automne Paris 120è Édition 23/24.

In 2023, as the filming of "Theater of the Yangtze River ™" drew to a close, I began conceptualizing a new series - "Flow". In this series, I narrowed my focus and perspective, shifting from a grand narrative to a singular viewpoint, exploring the concept of "impermanence" in eastern philosophy. The instantaneity and duration of time in my works form the foundation behind my visuals. A piece from this series (23.10.21 (Fluide Nº17), 2023)  was once again selected for Le Salon D'Automne Paris 121è Édition 2024, and exhibited in France.

In 2024, as I reevaluated the significance of photography and the influence of art on life, I revised "The Ganges River Sand". During this revision, I eliminated most of the "good-looking photos" to shift the focus from visual effects back to narrative structure. This revision represents my reflection on my photographic perspective over the past decade.

Artistic creation is a transformation of life. I aspire for my works to authentically express myself and capture the essence of life that once existed, at least during that moment in the creative process.



---The Text in Chinese below---

生于1981年，中国上海。

2013年，我以零基础开始了我的摄影生涯。在此之前，我未接受过任何摄影相关的学习或教育，也未涉及过影像或艺术相关的工作。2019年，我开始涉足导演领域，注重电影叙事。哲学、历史以及古典音乐都在无形中影响并塑造了我的艺术创作。

“恒河之沙” (The Ganges River Sand) 是我摄影生涯初期的作品，但它却成为了我创作历程中的一大鼓舞。2015年，举办了大型个人影展，并荣幸地邀请到了时任印度驻上海领事馆的最高官员出席开幕式并发表讲话。随后，部分作品被刊登在国家地理（中国区）杂志上，并成为2018年美国国家地理全球摄影大赛中国区的宣传主海报 (Holi II, Mathura, 2015)。系列作品中的两幅  (The Ganges River Sand - Cover Picture Nº1, 2013)  (The Ganges River Sand - Cover Picture Nº2, 2014) 在2019年的米兰影像博览会展出。

此后，河流和水流，是我艺术创作中的重要元素和主题。

2018年，我将目光投向了中国最长的河流——长江，并从东方哲学的角度出发，通过观察和反思，在2023年完成了叙事体作品“长江剧场™” (Theater of the Yangtze River ™) 系列。该系列中的单幅作品 (Chapter I - II, 2021) 在2023/24第120届巴黎秋季沙龙做展出。

2023年，在“长江剧场™”的拍摄接近尾声时，我开始构思新的作品系列——“如流” (Flow)。在这个系列中，我更加专注于从宏大叙事转向单个视角，探讨东方哲学中关于“无常”的观点。作品中的瞬间性和时间的绵长，是视觉背后的基点。该系列中的单幅作品 (23.10.21 (Fluide Nº17), 2023) 再次入选2024第121届巴黎秋季沙龙，并在法国展出。

2024年，在重新思考摄影的意义和艺术对生活的影响时，我修编了“恒河之沙”系列。在这次修订中，我剔除了大部分“好看的照片”，从追求视觉效果转向了叙事体结构。这次修订，是我前后十年间对摄影观点反思和转变的结果。

艺术创作是一种生命的转换，我希望自己的作品，至少能够在创作期间的那个阶段真实地表达自己，感受生命——曾经真切的存在过。