September 21, 2012
The Gifts of Quentin Shih and Christian Dior
“For thousands of years the great Yangtze River continues to nursih the city of a long history. Everything is flowing, everything is changing. This is my impression of Wuhan.” – Quentin Shih
Continuing his ongoing relationship with Dior, photographer Quentin Shih‘s most recent project entitled “Wuhan-Christian Dior” focused on the ever-changing culture of the capital of the Hubei province and Central China. This stark yet fantastical series explores the idea of westernization as a gift to the people of Wuhan. With the help of the incredible couturiers at Christian Dior, Shih captures the quiet exchange of gifts between ordinary locals and these spectacular couture-clad women. Each of the individuals in the scene are positioned in a generic, two-walled set which is then placed in an empty, unspecific, industrial landscape. The scenes are each shot in his signature overly-sharp technique. These components demonstrate the process of westernization in a way that is still, startling, and beautiful.
