Urbanautica

HANSHUN ZHOU. FRENETIC CITY

by Steve Bisson

«I feel in city-life there’s an inescapable pressure that leads to the pursue of never-ending material gains, which in turn affects the mental well-being. I guess that’s why there are lots of people who needs to “escape” the daily grind.»

© HanShun Zhou from the series 'Frenetic City'

HanShun Zhou is an artist born and raised in Singapore. After graduating from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Singapore and RMIT University, he went on to make a living as an art director, and continues to pursue his passion as a visual storyteller and photographer. He uses photography as a way to explore, investigate and document the culture and people in the cities he has lived in. Apart from discovering the aspects of everyday life, his work also seeks to explore the notion of spirituality and humanity in the urban environment. He is currently carrying out a Kickstarter campaign for a book: ‘Frenetic City’. The publication reflects a personal vision of the city of Hong Kong where he has lived from 2014 - 2017. «Hong Kong is a very dynamic and energetic city», told me the Singapore based artist, «Sometimes, a little too overwhelming and chaotic. Especially the crowded streets. The city itself has this energy to it—a never-ending energy, day-to-night. Compared to other cities, Hong Kong for me feels much more intense, much more competitive, much more “hurried”. In general, I think Hong Kongers are trying really hard to make ends meet (given the astronomical price of property there).»

Mockup book 'Frenetic City' by HanShun Zhou

‘Frenetic City’ focuses on the fierce physical and mental competition he experienced during his stay in Hong Kong. This dimension is mirrored in the same artistic process. The creation of each photograph required him to be fixed at a specific location from between 5 to 7 hours per session. Through the viewfinder of an old Hasselblad, he created each photograph by overlapping selected individuals or groups of people within the 6 x 6 frame. I wonder how he manage those tiring sessions. How long did the whole process took? And what was people reaction? Did he face any particularly issue? «Most of the time» says HanShun Zhou «I don’t get the feeling of tiredness until I finished shooting. I guess I was too focused on getting the right people into the frame at that point in time. At each location, I would tried to shoot 1 roll of film, which is 12 frames. Each frame ranges from about 10 up to sometimes 50 exposures, so it takes a lot of time just to complete 1 frame because I have to take into account which person or people I want in the frame. That said, when I am shooting, I hardly notice the time, until the sun is about the set or the light is fading. Some locations might take as long as 6 hours, other shorter. Most people are generally oblivious to my presence, which can be problematic when they accidentally knocks into my tripod. Which means I have to start the process again. I am shooting on film, so luck also plays a big part when I develop the negatives. Most times, I would have to revisit the same location to re-shoot.» Most times, I am driven to add, time is not linear. An arts deal often with its perception.

© HanShun Zhou from the series 'Frenetic City'

What about the book then. Why a book? What are the choices and criteria that guided the design of it and helped you to translate his feelings and assumptions. Every book is a choice. It's a direction... «For me, the book is a final outcome of any project. It’s permanent, compared to say an exhibition, which only lasts at most a month.» I have the impression of having heard this before. There must be something true about it. Long life to books... HanShun Zhou moves on with the rhythm: «When designing the book, I wanted to have a rhythm of highs-and-lows, and in a way relates back to energy of the city. Similar to say a piece of music with faster and slower beats/rhythm. When flipping through the book, there are some double-page spread that acts as a sort of punctuation in the book.» It almost seems that we are talking about a musical score. Hearing is an underrated sense in photography. There is no doubt.

Mockup book 'Frenetic City' by HanShun Zhou

‘Frenetic City’ mirrors thoughts and glances towards the city that often recur in his works. As other before him HanShun Zhou is driven to a comparison with the urban condition (civilization) or those processes that more than any other has marked the advent of modern man. «We are already living in a highly urbanised world, where the majority of the world’s population are residing in cities. Having grown up in Singapore, a city-state in itself, a part of me wants to examine the effects of city-life have on its inhabitants. Another part of me wants to examine the effects of how city inhabitants have on the surrounding environment at large.» I can only respect this attitude, this desire not to surrender to foolish and blind progress. There is something ancient in this posture. Although ‘Frenetic City’ returns a dense, chaotic, and elusive vision of the city of Hong Kong, at the same time the photographer’s position, his firm and imperturable posture also projects us onto a dimension that transcends what we see. Is there a message that appeals to our conscience, to a different need for quiet, physicality and relationship with people? Once again, HanShun Zho has a clear position: «For me personally, I feel in city-life there’s an inescapable pressure that leads to the pursue of never-ending material gains, which in turn affects the mental well-being. I guess that’s why there are lots of people who needs to “escape” the daily grind.» The camera is a tool for a quest of meaning, of a different voice, for our own liberation. From what is well and undoubtedly said by the artist.

I then wonder about his background, schools as much as his artistic references, mentors, books. I am sure there are many and significant and that seeds can be found within the ‘Frenetic City’. There are lots of photographers whom I admire. «The great masters like Harry Callahan, Lee Friedlander, Daido Moriyama, Henri Cartier Bresson, Masahisa Fukase, Josef Koudelka, just to name a few.» Who hasn’t had teachers? Who are masters? To me it appears that they are those who help us to free our voices, to increase our awareness, our horizon of events. They don’t have to be famous authors, sometimes they are hidden figures. So says HanShun Zhou «I particularly love “The Solitude of Ravens” by Masahisa Fukase. The entire mood and tonality of the book reflects back on the pressures of life. For me, it’s a dark journey into the mental state of someone’s mind/life. A body of work that have inspired me greatly. Someday I will get there.» Well, "someday I will get there" it's a beautiful thought. The end is what always drives us to seek. And I hope that HanShun Zhou will continue on his path of enrichment. While doing so he will give us the opportunity to learn and grow with him.

I think 'Frenetic City' is about this.

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BOOK
Kickstarter Campaign 'Frenetic City'

Edition: 300 signed and numbered copies
Extent: 80 pages, excluding cover, 36 photographs
Size: 8 inches x 10 inches
Printing: Duo-Tone Printing
Finishing: Thread Sewn, Case Bound

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LINK
HanShun Zhou personal website

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