RongRong (Beijing East Village, 1968)
In 1993, RongRong moved to Beijing and befriended the young and struggling bohemian artists that were also settling in the same desolate village, later known as the Beijing East Village. Over the course of five years, RongRong served as the principal photographer and essential collaborator in the village, documenting the quotidian yet eruptive lives of his fellow aspiring artists, who were experimenting with performance art as a personalized form of political resistance. Some of these artists would go on to become the most iconic figures in Chinese contemporary art. The earnest and highly emotive images that RongRong made not only serve as crucial documents of this legendary avant-garde community, but they also visually testify to the fearless and vibrant exploration that defines Chinese youth culture in the 1990s.
His favorite photographer: Man Ray
Image Credit: Courtesy RongRong and Three Shadows Photography Art Centre
Reviewed by Felix Ho Yuen Chan, Chinese photography specialist
RongRong is currently having an exhibition at The Walther Collection.co
荣荣 （1968年北京东村系列)
荣荣于1993年来到了破旧的北京郊外村庄大山庄，并与一群外地年轻艺术家一同居住。在五年间，荣荣成为了村中重要的摄影师以及策划人。他捕捉了伙伴们的日常生活，以及他们充满爆发力的，以及抗争性的身体艺术行为。这其中的几位艺术家成为了中国当代艺术最具代表性的人物。荣荣所拍摄的赤裸影像充满着感染力，成为了记录下这个前卫艺术部落的重要历史证据。这些影像也是90年代中国青年放荡不羁精神的印证。
Image Credit: 图片由荣荣和三影堂摄影艺术中心提供