• Fan Shunzan's images evoke the aspirations of Chinese working-class people, while placing them in the reality of their current lifestyles.
    Fan Shunzan's images evoke the aspirations of Chinese working-class people, while placing them in the reality of their current lifestyles.
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Chinese photographer Shunzan Fan is showing his satirical series of images at Sydney’s Stanley Street Gallery as part of the Head On Festival.

A satirical and humorous series of images titled "Between Heaven and Earth" from the Chinese photographer Shunzan Fan will be shown at Sydney’s Stanley Street Gallery from late April. Shunzan presented his work at the Pingyao International Photography Festival earlier this year.

He shot a series of images of mostly poorer Chinese citizens standing or acting out roles against painted backdrops illustrating some of their aspirations, though at the same time they were placed in foregrounds representing a much harsher reality.

Shunzan’s images evoke an ironic and somewhat pessimistic view of Chinese society, illustrating how distant some of the peoples' dreams really are. The dream scenarios of the subjects range of elevating themselves to a wealthier class of citizen, to simply visiting other locations or enjoying a different existence.

Shunzan graduated from the China Academy of Art in 2006, but lived a hard existence in France whilst trying to get work, before returning to China to work as a freelancer. He says, “I realised life is not easy. On the one hand I was pursuing my dreams, but on the other I had to maintain a realistic life. This series is about my experience of reality. I think the dream is positive energy. It’s so moving to make the effort for dreams. It’s not so important whether the dream can come true or not.”

The exhibition will run from April 29 until May 16 at the Stanley Street Gallery, 1/52-54 Stanley St, Darlinghurst, NSW, as part of the Head On Festival in Sydney, which is running from May 1 to 10 at various venues around Sydney. Gallery hours are 11am to 6pm Wednesday to Friday, and 11am to 5pm on Saturdays.

For more information see www.stanleystreetgallery.com.au

Fan Shunzan's images evoke the aspirations of Chinese working-class people, while placing them in the reality of their current lifestyles.
How much time does reality give to dream No. 4.


How much time does reality give to dream No. 2.


I want to have more longevity than my Grandma.

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