Conceptual nominee

Ten years in the making, Necessary Errors is a series of experimental images that are reminiscent of Chinese traditional artworks.

Captured in New York City between 2009 and 2019, each image in the collection is composed to reflect the characteristics of watercolor, calligraphy, paper cutting, and other forms of classical art from China.

Combining the silhouette of the city and digitally generated elements, a modern metropolis is transformed into a nostalgic oasis.

Journey Gong is a Chinese American artist who presents his poetic interpretations of cultural landscapes through photography.

Born and raised in a factory town in Northwestern China, Gong moved to the United States as a young adult. The experience of culture shift has had a great influence on his work. Not only does he appreciate the most celebrated, but also cherishes the often overlooked.

Gong takes special interest in the drama and composition of his photographs, and the visual excitement of light, color and space. Guided by the creative writing process he developed during his academic training, his serialized photographs are concise and rich in emotion. From creating the concept, to finalizing the image selection, he often works on a series for years. Based on a common theme, each image within a series can stand alone as a visual poem, or form a narrative when displayed together.

Gong’s work has been honored by Fine Art Photography Awards, International Photo Awards, Independent Photographer Color Photography Awards,Tokyo International Foto Awards, and ND Awards. His series were featured on The Christian Science Monitor Weekly Magazine, F-Stop Magazine, Broad Magazine, Musée Magazine, Sixth Fitch, Dodho, L’Œil de la Photographie, and We and the Color.