zhang kechun

Explorer | Photographer | Artist

Authorne shares an affinity with nature and commits to exploring the intrinsic spirit of its motifs. In continuing to identify ambassadors and muses for the Encounters series who embody the values of the brand as we connect and commune in the world, Chinese based photographer Zhang Kechun resonates.

...there is a cultural maxim that says mountains are "virtuous" and rivers are "moral".

Authorne’s Rachel Bu spent the Lunar New Year season in China amidst friends, family, and extended community. In meeting Kechun, a photographer best known for capturing the vast and spiritual significance of the landscape in Chinese culture, Bu identified a synergistic desire to seek deeper, symbolic meaning.

In his artist statement, Kechun shares the following:

“Mountains and rivers are very significant for the Chinese people. In this country, there is a cultural maxim that says mountains are 'virtuous' and rivers are 'moral.' […] My work explores the landscapes of China, capturing the ecology of its magnificent natural phenomena. The tiny human figures, insignificant when set against the vast natural forms, are inspired by Chinese artistic tradition. My aim is to create a modern point of contact for our contemporary and sociologically concerned eye.”

I hope the audience perceives [...] the insignificance and fragility of life when confronted with natural forces.

The artist, who began his career as a painter and designer, eventually pursued photography after traveling extensively capturing scenic images along his journey. In 2008, the cataclysmic earthquake in the artist’s hometown province of Sichuan served as an inflection point both personally and professionally.

“Although I attempt to avoid reminiscing about the earthquake and its aftermath, the photos I captured at the time did receive some recognition. This recognition prompted me to transition from being an amateur photographer to pursuing a professional career in photography.”

This moment, though devastating, can be understood as the cicada’s cry.

Those photographs, so profoundly affective for their ability to capture vast wake of tragedy, became the artists first major collection exploring the relationship between man and nature: “What I hope the audience perceives when they view these images is the insignificance and fragility of life when confronted with natural forces.”

Bu, for whom the images capture an inflection point both in the history of the region and in Kechun’s own career, ascribes the artist with qualities of the cicada. This moment, though devastating, can be understood as the cicada’s cry.

My cicada embodies characteristics of reservation, hyper-realism, and the ability to camouflage and conceal when necessary.

Kechun states, “Indeed, the persistence of the cicada resonates with me. At the outset of my creative journey, I traversed through and “Between the Mountains and Water” with nothing but my large format camera strapped to my back and my trusty foldable bike as the sole means of transportation. Along the way, I documented the landscapes, scenery, and the people I encountered. This project and journey endured for several years on the road and on the banks of the rivers. Many of the people I met did not comprehend why I chose to travel in such a manner and for such an extensive period. At times, I found myself doubting… However, it is the time I spent that allowed me to fully understand both the river itself and the ever-present mountains nearby. For the first time I truly felt and experienced the Chinese saying or belief that the “mountains are virtuous, rivers are moral.” After I returned and exhibited the work, I received recognition globally and my dedication to this path was further solidified."

Presently, photography serves as my primary medium for engaging with the external world...

In being asked to describe the resonance he feels with Authorne, Kechun rather perceptively suggests: “I am particularly drawn to the inspiration derived from animals. Not only the physicality but rather the spirit. My cicada embodies characteristics of reservation, hyper-realism, and the ability to camouflage and conceal when necessary. Yet, it still exudes a powerful presence, demanding to be heard and seen.”

In describing what continues to drive his practice forward, the artist recounts:

“Someone once advised, “Strive to craft illusions of significance.” I strongly connect with this notion. Presently, photography serves as my primary medium for engaging with the external world, and I am committed to further honing my skills in its use.”

Zhang Kechun lives and works in Wenjiang, Chengdu. In describing his hometown, the artist shared that he drives “past plant nurseries and a large planting base near my home. I noticed cranes lifting trees and stones into the air. I saw this as an opportunity to capture a slice of China’s rapid urban development. It took me a year to photograph these trees and stones, compiling them into my recent collection titled “The Sky Garden.”

Learn more about Zhang Kechun’s artwork and his recent collection via the Huxley-Parlour Gallery.

Explore Authorne’s Cicada motif and jewelry at this link.

Photography By: Fastin