The Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, in collaboration with Xiaohongshu Photography as the “Premium Discovery Partner, ” jointly launched the 2023 Jimei x Arles Discovery Award. Artist Lahem (birth name: Luo Xin), nominated by curator Joanna Fu, secured the 2023 Jimei x Arles Discovery Award with his exhibition Modernity’s Fracture: The Odyssey of Returning Hometown.
The jury commended Lahem's creative endeavor, stating that amidst rapid societal changes, Lahem's work delves back into the homeland, utilizing pure photography to explore the intricately interwoven relationship between an individual's homeland and the city, memory, and identity. His work transcends personal experiences, abstracting the homeland into a universal concept symbolizing the land itself. He scrutinizes the inevitable cycles and connections between humanity and nature, life, and death. Through images brimming withprimal force and exceptional expressive techniques, he seamlessly merges emotional complexity with flawless presentation, striking a direct chord with the audience.
Lahem
Lahem, the recipient of the 2023 Jimei x Arles Discovery Award, was born in Jiangxi Province, China, in 1984, and presently resides in Hangzhou. He completed his Bachelor's degree in Literature from Fudan University's Chinese Department in 2008 and is currently pursuing studies at the Social Archive of Chinese Photography within the China Academy of Art. His enduring fascination lies in exploring themes surrounding identity, memory, and historical narratives.