A boy with Photos. A converstaion with Xiang Shouju
It's the early 90's, in Chongqing China and among 30 million inhabitants one little boy is dressing up barbie dolls in his room behind locked doors. From an early age he knew he was different as he didn't enjoy playing with the typical toys little boys played with such as toy guns and cars. His name is Xiang.
Xiang's creativity blossomed from those days designing for his barbies in his room. Collecting old scraps of cloth and giving them life by styling his barbies. While other kids were growing up doing regular things, Xiang had already started designing without even knowing it.
“Sometimes I was so absorbed in making clothes I would spend the whole day doing it! I think this is the reason I enjoy designing so much”
Growing up in an open-minded city, where he always felt free to expand his ideas and creations, he started his first Photography degree. There, Xiang and his friends would take photos for fun, it gave him a chance to practice his photography skills, execute his visions and build on his strengths. In 2016, after graduation he realized he had enough experience and decided to move to Tokyo. Being a stranger to the city and the language he felt completely alone but took advantage of it and began creating.
“When I arrived in Tokyo, I felt totally lost, I didn’t know anyone back then, so I believed I could handle everything by myself”
Inspired by designers like Alexander McQueen, photographers like Tim Walker and Hellen Van Meene, the lonely Xiang started creating his own worlds, where he was not just a stylist but a photographer, and make-up artist too. He declares that imagining himself in the role is what helps him to create his works. Stating that he is his biggest inspiration, Xiang would have a vision, sketch it, choose his muse, style them, do their make up and take their photo all alone in his room. A Barbie doll that has come to life, he was completely devoted to his job.
His photographs have Japanese and Chinese traditional culture connotations, “Geishas” “Manchus” and other figures of the Japanese and Chinese Dynasty this is what attracts him to both the cultures. He believes that even if China and Japan have a unique style, both cultures share a common sense of beauty. This way, he gives birth to his breath taking eastern fairy-tale characters.
Side Note: Some Chinese movies recommended by Xiang; Blind Massage from Lou Ye and Bugis Street from Yonfan.