Interview
Jia Hao
Jia Hao (b.1990, China) is a visual artist based in the Yunnan province of China. She studied at the State University of New York at Albany between 2010 and 2014 graduating with an BA in Fine Art with a focus on photography and digital imaging. Jia works predominantly in photography and collage, building narratives within her work. Her main focus is on the human body and the environment and, through her work, she creates a dialogue about the expression and concealment of human identity. Influences come from the fashion industry and e-commerce, research into traditional folk art and conceptual visual art relating to body politics. Jia’s work uses pattern, composition and interaction to create collections of images reflecting on her themes, working between monochrome photography and documentary photography, performance to camera and high color collage.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I am a visual artist based in Yunnan province, China. I pursued my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a focus on photography and digital imaging at the State University of New York at Albany from 2010 to 2014. After graduating from college, I embarked on a global journey in 2016 and didn't return to my hometown until 2019. Upon my return, I began organizing the footage I had captured during my travels over the past few years and started creating collages. I also initiated a project to document the ethnic culture of my hometown.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“My artistic practice primarily revolves around photography and collage, where I construct narratives within my creations. I center my work on the intersection of the human body and the environment, aiming to foster a dialogue about the expression and concealment of human identity. Starting in 2020, my country implemented one of the strictest quarantine policies globally amidst the global spread of Covid-19. My artwork serves as a documentation of the emotional strain and physical discomfort I endured as a woman living alone during this challenging period. I believe that many women of my age group share similar mental concerns, such as anxiety related to age and gender.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“The approach I take to my creative process varies depending on the medium I am working in. When creating collages, I typically start by pre-planning the message or concept I want to convey. Then, I carefully organize the materials to bring that concept to life. In contrast, my approach to photography differs. For most photography projects, I follow a planned and structured process. However, I also enjoy experimenting with street photography, where spontaneity reigns supreme. This genre allows for more randomness and often yields unexpected surprises, keeping me attuned to the ever-changing rhythms of the streets.”
Are there any art world trends you are following?
“I am following immersive media art and experimental data visualization.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“I've taken many photos over the years, and they often serve as my primary source material for creating collages. Additionally, I have a special black box filled with carefully cut-out clippings from magazines, which provides me with a rich visual resource. When I decide on a theme for a new piece, I delve into my "Pandora's box" to find relevant materials. I then scan these materials in high definition to my computer and use photoshop to craft my collages. The daily accumulation of these materials plays a crucial role in my creative process, offering me a wealth of inspiration. In terms of my photography, my fascination with foreign cultures and lifestyles began in my childhood and was further ignited by my extensive travels a few years ago. These experiences made me realize that my hometown is a hidden gem that often goes unrecognized. This realization led me to return home. My hometown is home to twenty-six distinct ethnic groups, each with its own unique cultures, traditions, as well as social and developmental challenges, and historical legacies. As time progresses, there is a concern that the rich folk culture of my hometown may gradually fade away due to the influence of social capital—a fate we wish to prevent. Since 2017, I have been dedicated to exploring this theme. Through images, I document the cultures and daily lives of ethnic minority villages and capture the subtle interplay between tradition and modernity in contemporary society. As an artist, I've undertaken various research placements, including projects related to leprosy care and the folk culture of minority communities in China. I've also participated in an artist exchange program in Zurich, Switzerland. My photographs have been exhibited in prestigious venues, such as the Vacant online museum and the Dali International Photography Exhibition.”
“I center my work on the intersection of the human body and the environment, aiming to foster a dialogue about the expression and concealment of human identity.”
What does your art mean to you?
“Art, for me, can be distilled into two verbs: "in" and "out." Everything I observe, the ideas that spark within me, and the events I experience in my everyday life enter my heart and mind. Once they've taken root within me, I channel them into works of art, and in doing so, I share these creations with the public.”
What’s your favorite artwork and why?
“One of my favorite artworks is the protest staged by photographer Nan Goldin at the Guggenheim Museum in New York in February 2019, addressing its acceptance of funding from the Sackler family. She initiated a group called P.A.I.N. (Prescription Addiction Intervention Now) to confront the opioid crisis. P.A.I.N. consists of artists, activists, and individuals affected by addiction who believe in direct action. The issue of opioid abuse hits close to home for me as I've had friends who faced similar struggles. I deeply admire Nan Goldin's courage in taking the action I had wished to undertake but was afraid to pursue. Her artistic work and activism have consistently inspired me to keep creating and documenting the experiences of this community.”
