Zhou Chengzhou (周承舟; born 28 December 1982) is a Chinese film director, artist, and photographer. He has long given attention to problems relating to the mental and spiritual well-being of individuals and has focused his research and professional activities on such illnesses. Zhou Chengzhou's artistic theory likewise revolves around the concepts of industry, urbanization, and marginalization. Zhou's work as an artist, filmmaker, and writer depicts alienation – between people, places, and a "broader and homogenized culture."

Early life

Zhou Chengzhou was born in

Changde Changde (; Traditional Chinese characters, traditional Chinese: 常德區 ) is a prefecture-level city in the northwest of Hunan province, People's Republic of China. Changde, known as "Wuling" in ancient times, is located on the west side of Do ...

city (常德) in Hunan in December 1982. When Zhou was 7 years old his father taught him how to use a

film camera A movie camera (also known as a film camera and cine-camera) is a type of photographic camera that rapidly takes a sequence of photographs, either onto film stock or an image sensor, in order to produce a moving image to display on a screen. In c ...

and produce sharper photos, sparking the start of his love of photography. He was only doing it for fun at the time and had no plans to make a career out of photography. He spent several years developing shoes after earning his degree in Chinese language and literature from

Peking University Peking University (PKU) is a Public university, public Types of universities and colleges in China#By designated academic emphasis, university in Haidian, Beijing, China. It is affiliated with and funded by the Ministry of Education of the Peop ...

in 2005. But it was during this period that his love for photography was rekindled as he took over 200,000 images of the shoes to promote them online. This enhanced his photographic abilities. In 2015 he shifted more of his attention to photography, honing his skills through various experiences, including a stint on the set of a TV show and shooting at

Paris Fashion Week Paris Fashion Week (, commonly ) is a series of designer presentations held semi-annually in Paris, France, with spring/summer and autumn/winter events held each year. Dates are determined by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. Pa ...

in 2016. He then officially became a photographer and embarked on a career behind the lens, shooting photos of giant engineering projects and high-speed rail infrastructure using drones. As his experience grew, he sought to break away from traditional photography concepts and develop his style.

Biography

He focuses mostly on producing and studying work related to spiritual consciousness. His work underscores the gap between people and a broader universal culture while including themes of industrialization, urbanization, and marginalization.

Awards and honors

* The

LensCulture ''LensCulture'' is a photography network and online magazine about contemporary photography in art, media, politics, commerce and popular cultures worldwide. It is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. ''LensCulture'' sponsors international photograph ...

Summer open Awards 2022, Winner * Silvana S. Foundation Commission Award 2022, Shortlist * The 1x photo awards 2017/18, Winner * Aesthetica Art Prize 2019 and 2023, Finalist * Photofest with

National Geographic ''National Geographic'' (formerly ''The National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as ''Nat Geo'') is an American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. The magazine was founded in 1888 as a scholarly journal, nine ...

award 2019, Winner * Lensculture Art photography award 2018, Finalist * 5th FAPA Award, Finalist

Filmmaking career

His first film, '' Sub-subconscious'', was released in 2020, won the Best Audience Award feature film at 13 festival del cinema patologico, and won the Jury Award at LA Underground Film Forum. It was Nominated by Adirondack Film Festival, and Jelly Film Festival. He completed his second film, ''Unreflex Land'', in 2021. He completed his first feature film, ''Time provider'', in 2022.

Filmography

Exhibitions

''The Brink'' – Exhibition at Ugly Duck, 2023 ''

Exhibition'' – Exhibition at

Somerset House Somerset House is a large neoclassical architecture, neoclassical building complex situated on the south side of the Strand, London, Strand in central London, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The Georgian era quadran ...

Photo London Photo London is an annual photography event held at Somerset House in London in May.Photo London
...

2023 ''Times paradise -'' Aesthetica Art Prize 2023 Exhibition at

York Art Gallery York Art Gallery is a public art gallery in York, England, with a collection of paintings from 14th-century to contemporary, prints, watercolours, drawings, and ceramics. It closed for major redevelopment in 2013, reopening in summer of 2015. T ...

, 2023 ''Times paradise'' –

798 Art Zone 798 Art Zone (), or Dashanzi Art District, is a complex of 50-year-old decommissioned People's Liberation Army, military factory buildings boasting a unique architectural style that houses a thriving artistic community in Dashanzi, Chaoyang Di ...

, IDEAL GAS, 2023 ''Where did the trash go?'' – Exhibition at

Today Art Museum The Today Art Museum is a museum located in Beijing. References {{authority control Museums in Beijing Art museums and galleries in Beijing Art museums and galleries established in 2002 2002 establishments in China ...

, 2020 ''Beyond Boundaries'' – LensCulture Exhibition at

Aperture In optics, the aperture of an optical system (including a system consisting of a single lens) is the hole or opening that primarily limits light propagated through the system. More specifically, the entrance pupil as the front side image o ...

Gallery 2019 ''Under the Consciousness -'' Aesthetica Art Prize 2019 Exhibition at

, 2019 ''A Planet in Balance'' – Photofest with

sponsored gallery 2019 ''Multidimensional nature'' – Pingyao International Photography Festival, 2017

Publications

* ''Times paradise'', 2024 * ''VISION MAGAZINE SPRING 2023'' ''No.190'' ''Culture – While Wander, While Play'' * ''Future Now,'' 2023 * ''X,'' 1X, 2018 * ''Future Now,'' 2019 * ''Vulgar life and elegant chant,'' Chinese -style Mondrian'','' P232-233, 2015,

References

External links

{{Official website, http://www.zhouchengzhou.com/ Living people 1982 births Chinese photographers Chinese film directors Chinese artists Chinese contemporary artists Artists from Hunan People from Changde 21st-century Chinese artists Peking University alumni