We were lucky to catch up with Yizhen Zhang recently and have shared our conversation below.

YIZHEN, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I have a recently accomplished project called Win or Lose.

It is a biographical multimedia project primarily consisting of still photographs, supplemented with texts, video interviews, and a photo-book. This project concentrates on Win Tang, a 25-year-old Chinese barber who is the same age as me, who has lived in the U.S. for over 10 years. Notwithstanding his youth, he possesses concealed secrets and encounters that surpass his chronological age.

This is the first independently produced multi-media project by myself and gained some great awards and recognitions worldwide.

YIZHEN, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Yizhen(Aaron) Zhang, a storyteller and an image-maker, was born in Hangzhou, China and just graduated with an MFA in Photography from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, under the guidance of Alex Webb, a member of Magnum Photos.

Owing to more than seven years of committed photography experience, his photographs comprise a wide array of genres, such as street fashion, urban landscapes, human portraiture, and documentary. He has been operating as an independent photographer for years, specializing in documentary work and urban street fashion. In Yizhen’s photographic work, he predominantly harnesses natural and ambient light sources instead of extra lighting equipment. With a preference for the intricate play of shadows cast by urban structures or the soft, diffuse glow of twilight, his commitment to utilizing natural light stems from his belief that the sun is the supreme light source. This philosophy profoundly influences his creative process and is evident in both his street portraiture and documentary photography. His approach not only defines his unique visual style but also underscores his relentless pursuit of authenticity, capturing the essence of each moment with purity and integrity.

While a substantial portion of his creations are grounded in a documentary or street aesthetic, he discovers ways to incorporate diverse elements to enhance the variety of photo collections, which is achieved by merging traditional documentary narratives with contemporary art’s inventiveness in order to delve deeper into the ever-changing realm of digital imagery.

Some recognitions this year:
1. Two Honorable Mentions Awards in International Photography Awards (IPA) 2024
2. Two Silver Winner Distinctions in Global Photography Awards 2024
3. Semi-Finalist in Urban Photo Awards 2024

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the pursuit of art is not primarily about financial gain; it is also about enhancing my personal comprehension of the world and establishing a more profound connection with it. As a photographer, I derive constant recognitions by venturing beyond my own life circle to observe and document the lives of others through my lens. Using my camera to provide support and visibility to individuals who may feel unseen or neglected is the most rewarding aspect of my work.

Prior to capturing images of unfamiliar individuals, I always seek to comprehend their lives and experiences. Throughout the years, I have documented individuals from many ethnic and racial backgrounds, preserving their narratives through my camera. For example, I have documented individuals such as a war veteran who was ostracized by society due to post-war trauma, a firefighter who suffered an accident and is currently facing employment difficulties, a single father and taxi driver who, at the age of 40, finally obtained his first solo portrait after raising two children, and a young Chinese immigrant who is under house arrest after being unjustly accused of a crime. By documenting the stories of these average people in our society, sometimes referred to as marginalized persons, I aspire to provide them with a feeling of compassion, dignity, and understanding.

I always held the belief that real fulfillment arises not from own acquisitions but from contributions to others. My art seeks to convey their narratives so as to offer a moment of acknowledgment and esteem that may otherwise be absent in their life.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

Currency not art.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.yizhenzhang.art
• Instagram: @aaaronzzz