Quentin Shih (a.k.a. SHI XIAOFAN), born in Tianjin, China in 1975, lives and works as a camera artist / film maker between New York and Beijing.
A self-taught photographer, he began to shoot photos in college for local underground musicians and artists. After graduation, he came to Beijing to develop his career as a professional photographer/artist. From 2000 to 2002, he participated in exhibitions in China and America with his fine art photographic works and his works have been collected by American museums, such as the Danforth Museum of Art and the Worcester Art Museum.
During the last few years, he has been producing work for top commercial clients and international publications such as Adidas, Microsoft, Sony, Siemens, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Esquire. His advertising campaigns work have won numerous international advertising and photography awards. In 2007, Quentin was named ‘Photographer of the Year‘ by Esquire Magazine (China).
His work often presents many elements referencing political or military themes in China (related to the Cultural Revolution especially) not for a political or military purpose, but for his interest in the “person in uniform” such as students or the police. As he stated “I always want the characters that appear in my work to completely appear as stage props. I tried to get rid of their own individuality; the uniforms completely “de-individualize” them.”
As one of the leading Chinese photographers, Quentin Shih is well recognized for his individual artistic style which utilizes vast sets and dramatic lighting to engage in emotional narratives. He is returning to his roots in fine art photography and challenging its techniques and concepts into his commercial and fashion photography in order to achieve a unique symbiosis.
Images courtesy of Quentin Shih
Discover: www.quentinshih.com
