They by Zhang Xiao (June 18, 2010) 
(16 votes, average: 3.69 out of 5)
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Introduction by Three Shadows Photography Art Centre
The 2010 Three Shadows Photography Award is a juried competition that selects artists that display a spirit of individuality and artistic potential from the emerging trends of Chinese photography. Through professional production, criticism, exhibition, and publishing, the award introduces the newest achievements of Chinese contemporary photography to a broad audience. The juried competition is open to photographers of Chinese descent dedicated to the creation of contemporary photography art in China or abroad regardless of age.
On January 22, 2010, the Three Shadows Photography Award committee made their preliminary selections. Twenty artists were chosen as semifinalists out of more than two hundred applicants.
The final results of the competition were announced on April 17, 2010, after the opening of the first Caochangdi PhotoSpring. The Three Shadows Photography Award invited a five-member international jury to China, consisting of Les Rencontres d’Arles Photography Festival Director François Hébel, Museum of Modern Art Photography Curator Eva Respini, art critic Karen Smith, Japanese art critic Kotaro Iizawa, and Three Shadows Photography Art Centre Founder RongRong.
Zhang Xiao, presented here, received this year’s Three Shadows Photography Award.
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Our poll "A photo essay always needs a great written story" closed. 267 people voted, 28% agrees, 72% disagrees. 233 people answered our follow-up question "Are you a photographer?" 82% indicated they are, 18% said no. Initially, negative answers to question #1 were almost 100% as was the pecentage of photographers among respondants. Then, when the level of non-photographers started to rise, the percentage of people indicating good text is always essential started to rise too. This seems to indicate that non-photographers think that adding good text to your photo essays is essential. In my opinion: if you want non-photographers to dig your work, you know what to do...
In real life, they are a group of very ordinary people, with their own lives and careers, but in these photographs, they seem strange and absurd, and very unreal.
Rapid economic growth is changing their lives and their emotional world.
Behind this ostentatious city, there is always grief and tears, indifference and cruelty.
I met them by chance and I longed to understand each of their lives and experiences.
What were they thinking in the moment that these photographs were taken?
Perhaps everyone has a different answer, and perhaps they have no answer at all.
What was I thinking when I photographed them?
I have no answer either.
Because I am one of them, I am also indifferent.
Perhaps our daily lives are all absurd.
I long to understand the meaning of our existence.
Zhang Xiao (1981) lives and works in Chongqing, China.
Click weblink zhangxiaophoto.com or browse our archives
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