Interviews In conversation with Shanghai photographer Maleonn
Maleonn, born in 1972 in Shanghai, is a talented photographer who has gained a kind of cult following because of his fable like photographs. His images, in colour and black and white, are often created with props, actors and a strange mix of hues, colours and theatrical sets. A graduate of the Fine Arts College of Shanghai University, Maleonn studied graphic design, and it shows in his works, which blend new style with a look and feel of old photographic images, when colors were unrefined. He lives and works in Shanghai.
People like to talk about their 'lucky breaks' but I think it's more of hard work and passion that leads to a breakthrough to becoming a professional photographer. When was your breakthrough?
Yes, but it’s not just one point. It is the continuous following steps. I finally found out that, for myself, only the day I took my camera to shoot is the lucky break because I found a way to express myself. Since then, for every work, I hope it would be little different from the previous ones. Always keep walking.
You were engaged in commercial film as Art director and Director for a span of 8 years. When did you realise your inclination towards photography and what was the first object you shot?
It is weird that I totally had no interests in photography previously. Maybe I was too busy. Every day I was doing the job as a Director and Art Director. I felt that photography had nothing to do with me. In early 2004, there were some digital cameras with high quality in the market. Photography has now become easy. Not necessary to learn the darkroom things. So I bought one. I tried to take some photos as the elements for my future paintings. But since I started, I cannot stop it anymore. Photography is so interesting in itself and I fell in love with it.
“The work is the communication between the world and us. We have to say our words honestly. And you also have to listen to the whisper of the world.”
Talking about your portfolio which is usually of people, how do you make them relax or pose for you during a particular shoot?
The experience comes from some working skills when I was the director. I will carefully observe the people I shoot. If he’s a similar guy as me, maybe he could understand what I wanted. Then I will tell him my idea and hope he plays with me. If he’s a restrained person, or I’m sure that he would become more nervous if he knows my intension, then I will tell him nothing, just act. Encourage him to do each action nicely, and let him know that he’s good at poser. So I can also have nice work. In one word, trust between each other is every important.
Do you ever go out to photography with a specific purpose in mind? Do you have a certain feeling you want to express and go out to find an image that will satisfy this?
Actually for every work, every photo is with a clear purpose. I already pictured all the images in my mind, even the drafts. I take the work is not to seek for one image to reflect my thinking. I had some words to say, so I set up the images, and let them talk. Actually it’s more like a painting. Of course there’s special inspiration in photography, some occasionally happened things. But most of the time, all the initial thoughts are still within the frame.
“What I’ve lost is actually more than when I’ve got. But the achievement is sort of comfort, like the shinning medal.”
Looking back at your work, which of your pictures make the strongest impression on you?
It’s the moment when I just started to take some works. At that time, many images appeared once in my camera excited me in particular. Because I didn’t have any experience in the past, I was often shocked by the image I designed. I thought it was so funny. I laughed sometimes. Or I was moved so much that I couldn’t even say a word. Like ‘My Circus’ ‘Unforgivable children’etc. Many images from that time are beyond my imagination.
You have been interviewed by CCTV China, BBC UK and have also received numerous awards in your career like IDAA Award, Award in Photography of Culture China, to name a few. How does it feel to have achieved so much in life?
Surely I feel very happy. Maybe it’s weird if I say so. But I really feel that creation is a tough and lonely thing to do. Many times I usually thought I could hardly handle that. I wanted to give it up, and to live like an ordinary person. Creation sometimes is like an individual exploration. Sometimes you have to face up the extreme mood to have extreme expression. In the past 8 years of shooting, I lived a lonely life, travelled around. Lovers and friends come and go around, only left myself to continue. What I’ve lost is actually more than when I’ve got. But the achievement is sort of comfort, like the shinning medal. When I look at the mirror, it makes me look braver, and persuades me to keep walking.
If you could turn back time, what is the one thing you would like to change in your life and why?
It’s a quite private question. I hope I didn’t do that stupid thing one day many years ago. So I wouldn’t hurt the woman once I loved so much, and wouldn’t lose her since then. Unfortunately, c’est la vie.
Does the science of photography appeal to you as much as the art?
It’s not that attractive for me. I’m not addicted to that. Sometimes I’m fond of some nice-looking cameras, or heavy equipments like weapons. That’s the addiction to aesthetics, not the science.
“When I look at the mirror, it makes me look braver, and persuades me to keep walking.”
What do you think of the work that’s being done by younger photographers? Do you find any trends that you are interested in, or puzzled by, or critical of?
I think the younger photographers’ work pays more attention to themselves. While the previous generations seemed to focus more on some broad things, like the subject of eternity and life. But I think every generation is actually being selected. It the change of the era shapes different style, thinking and focus. Nothing is wrong. I like some work which is different from mine. I can understand them, and fall in love with their work which I cannot take.
Would you like to provide with a piece of advice to the young budding photographers of today?
No special comment. I just want to tell them my opinion on photography. The work is the communication between the world and us. We have to say our words honestly. And you also have to listen to the whisper of the world. The two parties have to talk to each other. Don’t forget yourself, or the world. Many silent people need to hear your voice. Hence they won’t feel lonely, which makes your words meaningful.
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