Qingjun Huang is a conceptual photographer who has exhibited his works in the United States, China, and Europe. He remains notably published by established publications such as the New York Times, Bloomberg, Wired, BBC, Business Insider, and The Guardian. His most recent exhibitions include showings at Three Shadows Photography Art Center and Ying Photo Gallery in Beijing, China and Helsinki Photo Festival, Finland. Notable solo exhibitions in China include 798 Photo Gallery and Meimen Gallery in Beijing, Pudong International Airport, and Alibaba Group Headquarter in Hangzhou. Qingjun has been a finalist or won various awards with the London International Creation Competition, 10th Annual International Photography Competition, Florida Museum of Photography Arts, Tokyo International Foto Award, China International Press Photo Contest, and London International Creation Competition.
Family Stuff remains a series by Qingjun which explores notions of nostalgia, materialism, and personal connections. Quingjun sets up staged photography as his concept entails having his actors reveal narratives about their past and personal connections. The people within the works are tasked with collecting their most prized possessions, which are often in the form of paintings, vintage photographs of family members, retro clothing, and antiques. Qingjun then curates a sort of exhibition of a person's personal items laid out in front of their home with the homeowner posing along.
The deep familial connection with personal ‘artifacts’ are not merely notions steeped in attachment to materialism, but rather how strategic objects may invoke memories of past family members, notable experiences, and fine craftsmanship. These series of works invoke a sense of confusion, at least initially. Upon first inspection, the viewer may be forgiven to interpret the photographs as a documentary of a yard sale only to find the objects in the photos are precious and valuable. Upon carefully studying the photographs of the intricate curation of the ‘exhibit’ in front of the people’s homes, the audience will realize these are precisely choreographed and elaborate theatrical staged scenes. Deeply inspired by the vintage photographs of the late Robert Frank, Qingjun explores how the family unit, and specifically the home, defines contemporary identity.
Whitney (pictured above) depicts a woman against her luxury home, vintage BMW, and prized personal possessions displayed in an exhibition for the audience. The piece exemplifies Qingjun's depiction of the home and intimate objects to help describe the character of the subject. As we can see from the photos, the figure seems to have a fascination with shoes and books, suggesting she is fashionable and grounded in intellectual pursuits.
Qingjun Huang explores the fascination of American contemporary culture regarding homeownership and describing people through their prized personal belongings. The works are more than just a commentary on materialism as they invoke a deeper understanding of the impact of memories and time have on our collective and individual psyche. These works cause the viewer to ponder the purpose and value of family security and the documentation of time.
