In "Living on the Screen," Fang Kun, a Beijing-based photographer, delves into the evolving landscape of tourist attractions in Qinghai, capturing abstract scenes that probe the intersection of traditional sightseeing and contemporary digital culture.
This series offers a compelling examination of how modern technologies and social media are reshaping our experiences of such spaces.
Fang's images are marked by a sense of surrealism, depicting not just the physical locations but also the ephemeral nature of how these places are perceived and interacted with by visitors. His photographs reveal tourists engaged in activities far beyond the conventional practice of taking souvenir photos; many are now immersed in live broadcasts, transforming these scenic spots into stages for digital spectatorship. The presence of drones, reminiscent of crows hovering above, adds an eerie dimension, suggesting a pervasive surveillance and a shift towards an aerial, detached viewpoint.
The project reflects on a significant cultural shift where visual experiences have become simplified yet deceptively subjective. Fang notes that this trend towards a purely visual engagement can obscure deeper truths, highlighting a growing challenge in understanding reality. His work is a subtle critique of this phenomenon, suggesting that the reliance on digital images can lead to a superficial understanding of the world.
In "Living on the Screen," Fang Kun invites us to consider the implications of our mediated experiences. By overcoming the limitations of traditional sensory perception, he believes we can achieve new understandings and connections. His photographs encourage a reflection on how digital culture is transforming our engagement with the world and challenge us to seek a deeper, more holistic perception of our surroundings.
Born in 1992, Fang Kun operates out of Beijing as a freelance photographer. His practice is rooted in the belief that sensory experiences are interconnected and that photography can evoke a multisensory response, engaging not just sight but also invoking the imagined smells and sounds of a scene. Through his work, Fang aspires to create a dynamic interaction between the photographer, the subject, and the viewer, reshaping the space and atmosphere of the captured moment.
