Chasing Fog: Albert Zhang Photography Exhibition

About

This exhibition is organized and presented by ARTouch Consulting, leading art PR and Agency in the UK and China. Please R.S.V.P. the exhibition via the link 

• A young emerging Chinese artist, Albert Zhang, captures through his lens the intensity of fog that overwhelmed London’s city landscape on 11th December 2013
• As a Beijing born and bred artist, he contrasts this collection with a series of iPhone shots that record the insufferable smog experienced in China today, taken by the artist’s parents in Beijing.
• Obsessed with the artistic beauty of fog and prominence in society, his exhibition questions the interaction between human behavior and the natural environment.
• The fog element in his artwork materializes the link between post-industrial UK and fast-industrializing China.

SECTION 1:

Having recently moved to London, Albert Zhang has been taken aback by the modern city. Originating from Beijing, China, it has been refreshing to overlook a fog-free landscape. However, when the overbearing fog descended upon London on 11th December in 2013, it reminded him of the impenetrable smog that overshadows China today. But rather than being polluted airs that he feared, the fog that rolled into London was a vision he irresistibly wanted to capture.

China’s foggy vision was something he wanted to run from, whereas misty London has been a place he has been drawn to. The fog in the UK reflects the past, whilst the fog in China makes people fear about the future. However, being visually similar, the parallel incidences have blurred the differences between post-industrial UK and fast-industrializing China.

Obsessed with the artistic beauty of fog, and conflicting meanings it has in the two culturally and geographically distant countries, it has become a key characteristic of his artwork.

The artist captures the scenery near and around his London residence during the fog. The audience will see an array of 12 photographs that have iconic London features, including the Cutty Sark, Greenwich Park and Canary Wharf’s financial district. Although he focuses on visions of London, his photographs mirror traditional Chinese ink paintings and a Chinese landscape. The misty character of his photographs blurs the setting of the photographs, creating a beautifully mysterious resemblance of both the UK and China.

 
SECTION 2:

In 2013, China experienced one of the worst bouts of air pollution to date. And ever since, exposure to severe air pollution has become a day-to-day experience for Chinese citizens. This sparked the artist to compare the living environment in China and the UK.  Thus, alongside the photographs taken in London, the exhibition includes a series of photographs taken in China. Of which, is an experimental part of the exhibition that explores the relationship between developing China and the developed UK. Through the visual similarities in the two cities of the natural foggy vistas, it contextualizes two contrasting environmental impacts of climate change.

Isolated away from the main exhibition space, this second section of the exhibition displays 30 iPhone photographs taken by his parents residing in Beijing’s most central district. Curious of the evolving foggy condition in China at the moment, the artist invites his parents to record the smog condition in Beijing over a one-month period. The changing impact it has on the city is captured everyday during the month through a window in his parent’s home.

Public event

Saturday 27 June, 16.00 – 17.30

Camden Image Gallery, Admission free

The contrasting fog elements in Albert Zhang’s photographs have sparked his own interest in the environment. The rapid pace of development in China questions the sustainability of this development path, which took place in the UK more than two centuries ago. Does nurture counterbalance nature? Our panel discussion will discuss the issues faced in our unsustainably expanding society, and whether an artistic response to climate change can be used as a medium to contextualize the issue to the public. Panelists will include the artist, and other academics including those of The London School of Economics. 

16.00 Welcome reception
16.30 Guided tour by artist
16.45 Panel discussion
17.30 Event ends

To RSVP this panel discussion, contact: Sonia Wang sonia.wang@artouchconsulting.com

About the artist

Albert Zhang (B.1990) 张朝晖
Albert was born and grew up in Beijing. He got BA in media production at University of Bedfordshire in the UK.  Apart from making photographs, Albert is also a young entrepreneur in filmmaking. His works have been used by BMW and London Fashion Week, etc.

About ARTouch Young Emerging Chinese Artist Program (YECAP)

This exhibition is the inaugural exhibition of ARTouch Young Emerging Chinese Artist Program (YECAP). YECAP is a dynamic art-incubator program for young Chinese artists ages 18-40 who seek to debut their artistic career and present their works to the British audience. ARTouch Consulting, a leading arts PR and arts agency in China and the UK, will help YCAP artists organise exhibitions in London-based galleries, connect with established artists of our time, prominent collectors, leading figures in the art world, and provide advice and consultation on their artistic career development. For more information, please email: info@artouchconsulting.com

www.artouchconsulting.com