Z Dynasty
A Solo Exhibition by Lao Xie Xie
Curated by HOP
24 September - 20 November 2022
This exhibition comes at an unexpected point in my life when things started changing. After three years in China without leaving the country, and two months of absurd lockdown in Shanghai. We all realized that the Chinese dictatorship is serious and that "Big brother" can simply control your life. Nobody in Shanghai, a multicultural metropolis, thought it could ever happen. As it will take a long time for the city to recover from its current state of near-death, and finally, I've decided to temporarily depart China without any regrets.
And here we are, bringing art and photography back into our daily lives. I'm grateful that this show is taking place in Bangkok, which I think of as my second home. Bangkok was the first city in Asia where I set foot, and I feel happy staying here since it is a comfortable space to me.
This exhibition will show some of my best photos from the previous years to celebrate my work and also my love-hate relationship with China.
About the Artist
Lao Xie Xie
Lao Xie Xie (Mr. Thank-You) is a photographer based in China with a distinctive range of work.
He presents the story of the mixing of cultures in the modern world along with the local way of life of Chinese youth as expressed by their naked bodies. It explicitly addresses the issue of desire by contrasting popular culture with traditional beliefs. In other words, his images might represent people attempting to find happiness in a society that values competition.
The photography of Lao Xie Xie combines vibrant colors with unusual subject poses. Some convey a sense of realism. Those who have viewed his images are free to expand their perspectives, perceptions, and definite concepts of "Holiness" and "Deterioration" without any boundaries due to his mocking of morality.
The artist's work is widely recognized and published in various magazines from various countries, including C41 Magazine, SLEEK, and Numero, as well as exhibited in Thailand, such as the CHINA555 exhibition at Green Lantern Gallery and the SHANGHAI NO WHY exhibition at 23 BAR & GALLERY.
