Grace Lau's Chinese portrait studio has been on a memorable journey through Hastings, Southampton, London, Eastbourne, finishing this year at St Leonards on Sea. This exhibition shows a selection of the portraits captured on route. The portrait studio was made of ‘mock’ traditional Chinese furniture, with a decorative backdrop and accessories. Grace Lau acted as Creative Director, alongside photographer Richard Chung. People were asked to pose in a similar manner to Victorian studio portraits. However, in contrast to the historical setting, those having their portraits taken were encouraged to keep their modern-day accessories, such as mobile phones, shopping bags, and clothing.
“Through this project I am making an oblique comment on Imperialist visions of the ‘exotic’ Chinese and, by reversing roles, I have become the Imperialist photographer documenting my exotic subjects in the south of England.” (Grace Lau 2006)
"21st Century Types demonstrated, in a powerful visual way, the diversity of British in the 21st century. These rich many layered opulent portraits made by a Chinese born feminist photographer are a monument to place, race, people and the passing of time, and a direct political comment of the uses of photography as propaganda. Grace’s positioning of herself as an outsider photographer, drawn to photograph the procession of ‘types’ that pass in front of her camera, was essentially performative - acting the part of the stern Chinese studio portraitist who would not allow her subjects to smile, she creates a theatre of photography in which the émigrè’s drama is played out." (Prof. Val Williams 2019)
This project was funded by Art Council England and supported by John Hansard Gallery.
Portraits in a Chinese Studio. An exhibition of portraits by Grace Lau
Solaris Print, 76 Norman Rd, St Leonards-on-Sea, TN38 0EJ
9 November -21 December, 2024
See: https://www.solarisprint.co.uk/
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