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213 Born in 1987 in Chang Chun, Jilin province in Northeast China, the avant-garde photographer Ren Hang is now based in Beijing. A self- taught photographer, he first began shooting his closest friends, aged 21, whilst a studying for a degree in advertising. He has since become one of the most provocative and uncompromising photographers working in China today. Hang's photographs depict naked bodies as sculpture. Sometimes explicit, sometimes beautiful, often humorous, Hang's works have a snapshot-like feel, and appear playful and spontaneous. They are, however, carefully staged, with the photographer choreographing his models, who are still mostly close friends of the artist. He has stated; 'I like shooting my friends because they trust me, which makes me feel more relaxed. I can only take my best work when I'm in that state.' Although open to the element of chance, Hang has a clear vision of each image's final composition, and asks his subjects to contort and intertwine their bodies to produce unfamiliar angles. Hang shoots on film, stoically resisting the tidal wave of popularity in China for digital SLR. 'I've always shot onto film,' he has said, 'I prefer things to look natural and you can only get that on film.' A desire for the organic has also led the photographer to focus purely on the nude. Hang's images are instantly recognisable as a tangle of naked limbs, using the natural world either as backdrop or foil. His latest work sees his models disappear behind giant lily pads, sit precariously atop trees, and use tulips or cacti as props. The explicit content of Hang's work has led to obscenity charges and the censorship of his work in his home country. China does not allow outdoor nudity, so he has to be very careful when shooting. Despite the restrictions, Hang has enjoyed international acclaim. The artist, Ai Weiwei, invited him to join the group exhibition Fuck Off 2 in the Netherlands. The exhibition showcased the new wave of twentieth- century Chinese art. Hang has also gone on to shoot for numerous fashion brands and magazines including Tank, Chinese GQ and French Vice. In 2015 Hang has exhibited internationally, holding solo exhibitions in Tokyo, Paris, Vienna and New York. Ren Hang Born 1987