XIANGYU DONG
My work illustrates the relationship between space and art very well. Most of my work is created in domestic spaces because I believe that home, as a cosy and safe space, gives people the power to heal, and my work is a medium for a person to become intimate with the space.
“I prefer films to digital ones because of their sensitivity to light and colour expression, which is very important in my work.”
My shoots are usually driven by films, books, and music, which constantly allow me to bring my own experiences into specific plots, theories, or melodies. When I get inspired by them, I start by shooting some footage with my mobile phone or digital camera to find a suitable space and the right subject. When everything is ready, I take my medium format analogue camera and start working. I usually shoot one or two scenes per roll, and when the film is developed and scanned, I pick and choose the right ones.
A medium-format analogue camera and a Kodak Gold 200 film will always be my first choice. The film also gives me a wider variety and risk to my photographs. A few accidents during processing and shooting can sometimes be a vital part of my work.
I love going to bookshops, especially art bookshops. Every time I see a wide range of photography books, I pick some to take home and read. These books inspire my imagination of spaces and scenes and tend to leave a very deep impression on my brain.
Our relationship with space shapes who we are today. Therefore, a pair of such artworks placed in the home indeed allows the aesthetics and vibe of the work itself to spread in the space.
Xiangyu's primary artistic medium is photography, with research interests that include queer theory and visual culture studies in China. His previous photographic projects explored the tensions and dynamics of queer intimacy and drew from reflections on homonormativity. He is currently doing research in queering ethnographic and performative approaches to imagery in the socio-political and cultural context of contemporary China
Xiangyu Dong is a Chinese visual artist based in London. After completing his master's degree from the Royal College of Art, he is pursuing his PhD at Central Saint Martins. Xiangyu is the Conceptual Talent Award Winner of FRESHEYES New Talent 2024 and one of the Analog Sparks Award 2023 winners. He is also one of the judges of the ND Awards. His work has been featured in various publications, such as Another Magazine, The Opéra, and WÜL Magazine, and exhibited globally in countries and cities such as London, Paris, Budapest, and Arles.
