ZHOU Yang
Doctoral Researcher
Zhou Yang is a PhD student at CCVA, School of Art, BCU, and an artist using the medium of photography. Zhou’s research and practice explore themes of memory, cultural heritage and myths, and she has been exhibited in major photo festivals and fairs in China and abroad in the past decade.
Zhou has MA in Photojournalism at the University of Westminster in UK and BA in Broadcasting and Television Journalism at Shanghai International Studies University.
Research
Research title:
Reimagined Nature: Chinese Literati Gardens in Contemporary Art
Research question:
How can contemporary art works responding to Chinese literati gardens reimagine these sites beyond their inherent value as cultural heritage?
This practice-integrated research analyses the multi-faceted representations of Chinese traditional literati gardens, exploring their aesthetic values and functions in contemporary era.
As Cultural Heritage sites, literati gardens need to engage contemporary visitors in historical spaces. Therefore, Zhou Yang's interdisciplinary research examines how contemporary art generates new understandings of Chinese literati gardens and creates new experience for the audience.
Literati gardens have been well-researched in classical Sinology as well as architectural history. Chuin Tung’s 1936 essay explained that Chinese gardens were essentially ‘a branch of pictorial art’ (Tung, 1936). James Cahill stated that literati gardens were ‘Earthly Paradise built within the realms of the Mortals’ (Cahill, 2011). Meanwhile, literati gardens have catalysed endless possibilities of visual narratives.
Today, Chinese and international artists such as Eliasson are inspired by literati gardens, and contemporary art exhibitions are commissioned within gardens’ spaces. However, previous garden research and contemporary art belong to separated worlds. Zhou Yang's research will bridge different disciplines, revealing new use-values of literati gardens in a contemporary context.
Supervisors:
- Prof Jiehong Jiang
- Dr Lauren Walden
- Nathan Tromans
Publications
Selected exhibitions:
- 28 Oct-13 Nov, 2022: Project Sites of Myths was exhibited in Shanghai International Photography Exhibition organized by Shanghai Photographers’ Association
- 5 Mar-21 Aug, 2022: Solo exhibition Faërie @ Society Gallery, Shanghai
- 28 Dec 2021-16 Jan 2022: Project Faërie was selected in the 4th National Youth Photography Festival and exhibited in the Capital Museum in Beijing
- Apr 18-Jul 15, 2021: Project Sites of Myths was included in group exhibition TALK TO @ Shanghai Rongyi Art Museum
- 30 Mar-31 Aug, 2021: Project How to Grow Old was selected in group exhibition ‘Through Her Eyes’ exhibiting in Space 33, an art space inside the residence of the consul general of the United States of America
- Jul 24-Aug 24, 2020: Project Faërie was included in group exhibition Wander — Contemporary Photography and Chinese Classical Garden @ Couple's Retreat Garden in Suzhou
- Nov 23, 2018-Jan 3, 2019: Project Faërie was included in group exhibition FLUCTUATION and exhibited at Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival, and was nominated for the Madame Figaro Female Photographer Award
- Jun 18-27, 2018: On going project Faërie was included in The Second Image of Silk Road Photography Biennale of Tianshui Guest Exhibition
- Dec 8-17, 2017: Project Fading was exhibited in Top 20 Chinese Contemporary Photography Exhibition @ Zhejiang Art Museum
- Nov 19-Dec 9, 2016: Ongoing project Faërie was selected to be exhibited at Lianzhoufoto
- Sep 7-12, 2015: Ongoing project Faërie as part of a group exhibition entitled A Garden by Ruan Yisan Heritage Foundation @ Heritage Summit of National Trust, UK