Zhaotong Du
The Deviant (Series)
DESCRIPTION
A series of staged photographs that recall the current living state of couple of Chinese
international students from the past decade. The project aims to deliver the shifting mind set
between students who went abroad in 2010s and 2020s. As the tension grows between China
and the western world, attitudes toward studying abroad has been changed over the decade
with the rising nationalism and patriotism.
The recurring themes of identity crises faced by students navigating between cultures and ideologies, futile actions of a reappearing figure, and the faltering construction of the
photographic stage collectively highlight the tension between desire and absurdity in the pursuit of belonging in an era marked by displacement.
AUTHOR
London-based photographer Zhaotong Du is an MA fashion photography alumna of UAL:
London College of Fashion. Du began his photography journey by studying cinema in New
York. He blends cinematic lighting with his photos, giving them a dramatic and liminal
atmosphere.
Du's experience as an international student for over a decade, starting when he was 15 years
old, it has given him opportunities to explore the boundaries of identity. As an individual who
left China at a very young age and has been living in both the US and the UK for half of his
life, he utilizes his abilities in the field of photography to express his dilemma of finding home and belonging.
Group exhibition ‘About Time’ May 2024 London
Solo exhibition ‘The deviant’ October 2024 Shanghai
BBA photo price Berlin Longlist 10/50
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