Chou Ching-Hui’s (b. 1965) Animal Farm is a series of large-scale, diorama-like scenes,
which holds up a mirror to contemporary society. The Taiwanese photographer takes cues
from zoos – their connotations of voyeurism and entrapment, he says: “it’s a metaphor for
the cage of modern life.” The staged works, shot using 8 x 10 format colour film, tackle
many of the big issues facing the world: mental health, reproductive rights, capitalism and
pervasive technology. These pictures are extremely intricate, with each one layering different
characters and hidden details to build a rich narrative. They are eerie, hyperreal, unsettling
– but also fascinating. Chou, a photojournalist-turned-artist, recently showed the work at
Photo London with CHINI Gallery, Taipei. Chou invites you to inspect each work carefully. In
today’s fast-paced society, this is a chance to slow down, search for clues, and find meaning
in a theatrical world that mirrors our own. chouchinghui-studio.com | chinigallery.com
All images: Chou Ching Hui, From the series Animal Farm (2014). Image courtesy of the artist.
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