31 May Interview: Charles Chao Wang
CharlesChaoWang
Photographer
I first encountered photography in 2014 as a wedding photographer, where I was captivated by its ability to capture precious moments in the subject. However, I was disillusioned by the overly standardized processes required to produce commercially viable…
NIPA Featured Artist
I chose photography as my primary creative medium mainly because it can be combined with other media categories in…
A conversation with Charles Chao Wang.
I first encountered photography in 2014 as a wedding photographer, where I was captivated by its ability to capture precious moments in the subject. However, I was disillusioned by the overly standardized processes required to produce commercially viable…
The Interview
This NIPA feature brings together the artist’s reflections, selected works, and visual material in a long-form interview format.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and how your journey into photography began?
I first encountered photography in 2014 as a wedding photographer, where I was captivated by its ability to capture precious moments in the subject. However, I was disillusioned by the overly standardized processes required to produce commercially viable images. This undermined the authenticity of events and led me to rethink my understanding of the industry. In 2015, I began working as a photography assistant in a Chinese photography studio, where I developed strong technical skills over three years. However, I also observed a high degree of homogenization and derivativeness in much Chinese photography. I felt marginalized when I tried to shoot from my own creative perspective. This experience, coupled with the Chinese education system's lack of encouragement for personal expression, compelled me to pursue postgraduate studies abroad. In 2019, I went to the University of the Arts London to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Photography. London's diverse environment and encouragement of free expression greatly helped me develop my own photographic style.
What truly moves and inspires you as an artist?
Artworks that embody the artist's vitality and what the artist desires are the most moving and inspiring to me.
How would you describe your photographic style, and how has it evolved over time?
My early work was influenced by portrait photography, focusing on showcasing individual faces. During that period, I was obsessed with capturing what was visible in front of the lens. However, in the long process of creating, I found that these works could not convey all the content I wanted to express to the audience. After that, I came into contact with the works and ideas of Dadaism and existentialism, and I began to try to use photography to show the invisible, giving the individuals in the picture more symbolic meaning. For example, the "Nobody Spaces" project is a product of this transitional period. During the Shanghai lockdown, I was in London. Since my family and friends were in Shanghai, I maintained close contact with them every day during their two months of mandatory home quarantine. While constantly encouraging and comforting them, I also tried to help them find some beauty in their situation. I would have them take selfies at home every day and send them to me. From their selfies, I discovered some interesting things, and this is how the "Nobody Spaces" project was born. Initially, my intention for this project was to help my relatives and friends record and discover beautiful moments in life. As the photos continued to accumulate, I began to want to inspire more people facing similar difficulties. So I started to erase the faces of the figures in the paintings, turning them from concrete to abstract, so that more people could bring themselves into the works and rethink and understand themselves.
Who or what has had the biggest influence on your artistic vision?
Existentialist philosophy has had the greatest influence on my artistic ideas. Inspired by it, I began to explore the uniqueness and independence of the individual in the creative process.
What is your relationship with your camera and equipment?
My camera awakens countless feelings and memories in my life, some of which are deeply hidden within me, whether they existed or not, scattered throughout my life. My camera helps me build another path in life outside the real world, making my life more complete through creation.
What's the story behind your winning photograph?
When I took this photo, I was pursuing a postgraduate degree at the University of the Arts London. My research focused on how to present identity through photography. After repeated experimentation, I decided to photograph my friends and their living spaces.
What was the most important decision you made when creating this image?
I believe the most important decision was that I deliberately reduced the prominence of the figures' faces in the image, diverting the viewer's attention to the entire composition. This approach allows the viewer to perceive the figures and their living space as a unified whole.
How did you use light, composition, or emotion to bring your vision to life?
I used a flash and a canopy umbrella to create soft lighting, minimizing shadows in the image. I believe this lighting creates a relatively objective atmosphere. In terms of composition, I adjust the proportion of the people in the frame based on the shooting environment, striving for a balance between the people and the environment. As I mentioned in my previous answer, I want them to visually form a cohesive whole.
What do you hope people feel or think when they see this photo?
I hope people will be curious about the people in the images—their identities, professions, personalities, ages—all the information about them can only be gleaned from their clothing, postures, and living spaces. As viewers ponder these questions, I believe they will gain a deeper understanding of identity.
What does photography mean to you on a personal level?
I chose photography as my primary creative medium mainly because it can be combined with other media categories in contemporary art. Between 20 and 22 years ago, I experimented with media other than photography, such as performance art and installation art. In the end, I found that the possibilities and freedom contained in contemporary photographic art were what fascinated me the most.
What message or idea do you want your work to communicate to the world?
Themes I'm passionate about, such as power dynamics, individual freedom, and identity, are powerfully expressed through photography. Each image is a point of intersection between my inner world and external reality. For me, photography is not only a way to record the reality before my eyes, but also a way to express unseen inner thoughts. Through photography, I hope to create a resonance between my work and the characters in my images, guiding them to reflect on their own individuality and their social environment. For me, photography is not only an artistic expression, but also a way of self-exploration and healing.
What was your first reaction when you found out you won a NIPA award?
I felt very honored
What are your upcoming projects or dreams for the future?
My new project, which I started this year, focusing on the urbanization of my hometown, is inspired by my longing for it and my helplessness in the face of the government's forced transformation of ancient buildings into modern tourist attractions. My hometown is an ancient town with a history of over a thousand years, located on the outskirts of Shanghai. I've lived there since birth. After graduating with my bachelor's degree, I left to work as a photographer in a more developed region, and this ancient town remained my spiritual anchor during my wanderings. However, now, this ancient town is becoming increasingly unfamiliar to me. The historic houses and buildings have been demolished under government renovations, replaced by ornate yet empty shells. The local residents and I understand that the government wants to develop local tourism and culture, but it has neglected the preservation of traditional culture and the destruction of the local community. Many residents have lived in the town since birth, but are now forced to move out of their homes and into government-provided apartments. In this project, I confront the insignificance and helplessness of personal emotions and memories in the face of social change.
What are your thoughts on NIPA, and is there any suggestion or idea you'd like to share to help us make it even better in the future?
I am delighted to have had the opportunity to participate in NIPA and receive recognition from the judges; this is of great significance to my photographic career. If NIPA were to organize exhibitions of award-winning artists, I would be eager to participate.
I chose photography as my primary creative medium mainly because it can be combined with other media categories in…
Images from the Photographer
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