Die chinesische Fotografin Hui Li ist eine eher schüchterne Person. Diese Schüchternheit jedoch weckt die Neugier in ihr, genauer hinzuschauen. Den Menschen und Objekten näher zu sein und die Intimität zu verstehen, die sie in ihrer Fotografie thematisiert.
Ein wichtige Rolle in Lis Arbeit spielt das Vertrauen zu den Menschen, die sie porträtiert. Das sei das Geheimnis der intimen Fotografie.
Ein wichtige Rolle in Lis Arbeit spielt das Vertrauen zu den Menschen, die sie porträtiert. Das sei das Geheimnis der intimen Fotografie. Die Inspiration dazu findet sie im Arbeitsprozess der analogen Fotografie selbst. Das Gefühl das entsteht, wenn sie sich an die Entstehung der Bilder zurück gesinnt, inspiriert sie immer wieder aufs Neue. Es motiviert sie, die Motive aus einem anderen Blickwinkel zu sehen und die Herangehensweise fortlaufend zu ändern.
Giulia: Where do you live and how does society play a role in the way you work?
Hui: I live in China. I am a relatively shy person, I spend less time in society and the outside world than other people. But because of this, my curiosity drives me to take a closer look at people and things that have been neglected, and I use my imagination to understand what intimacy is in somebody’s life and how it comforts people, or how the strange relationship between people and their surroundings works. It’s interesting to try to get a sense of the right distance and balance. Compared to a pure focus on documenting, I want my photographs to resonate with the viewer and awaken vivid memories. I like my work to seem like a bit of a stream of consciousness.
How do you choose the people you work with? How‘s the atmosphere like whilst shooting?
They are my friends. I usually shot the same two people in the past (and sometimes self-portraits). We trust each other, so it’s easier to capture intimate moments. But only shooting the people I know has become limiting because I’m interested in so many topics. I don’t want to just stay at the stage where I am now and just tread water. So I’m pushing myself to go out, get to know new people, and capture something fresh and interesting. I’ve begun working with strangers who like my work, which is a completely different experience. With friends, there aren’t too many obstacles in the process, as it’s easier to give clear instructions and get the desired result. With people you don’t know, you have to adapt to their personality and find a different approach.
Do you see the world differently through the lense of your camera?
Yes, I feel that the world has become a huge jigsaw puzzle. Focusing on photography allows me to freely choose a picture that I think is interesting or create something completely new based on the real world.
Do you remember a certain moment as a photographer that really has been special to you?
I shoot film, and I often can imagine the results whenever I take pictures. However, when I actually see the final photos, I feel that the sensation I get from recalling the scenes and feelings of that time will always call and inspire me to explore a certain theme more in-depth and with a slightly different approach.
A place where you want to travel to in the future?
I’ve become very busy recently, but I still want to fulfill my wish of traveling to Iceland as soon as possible.
