Born in 1990 in Kunming, China, Jia Hao‘s journey as a photographer began to unfold in 2009 during her college years in New York. What started as a casual exploration soon evolved into a profound artistic endeavor, shaping her distinctive approach to capturing the essence of the everyday. Over the years, Jia Hao has skillfully documented her explorations, weaving a narrative that transcends the mundane and delves into the extraordinary.
In her captivating series, “Space Refugee,” Jia Hao employs a unique blend of original fine art photography and the meticulous practice of collage. Through this fusion of mediums, she peels back the layers of the commonplace, exposing the hidden beauty that often eludes the untrained eye. Each piece and series she creates serves as a direct response to the environment she immerses herself in, a testament to the symbiotic relationship between the artist and her surroundings.
The intuitive act of photographing and assembling her works becomes a visual diary, chronicling Jia Hao’s journey through her home, travels abroad, and her engagement with new settings. The resulting images offer viewers a glimpse into the inherent variability of a place, refracted through the lens of an individual’s unique perspective and experiences.
“Space Refugee” is not merely a collection of images; it is an excavation of familiarity. Jia Hao masterfully re-conceives the sculptural elements of landscapes, the interplay of light, and the manipulation of space – aspects often overlooked within the urban environment. Her work invites viewers to reconsider their surroundings, urging them to recognize the aesthetic beauty woven into the fabric of everyday life.
Central to Jia Hao’s artistic philosophy is the exploration of dichotomies within the world. Her work delves into the juxtapositions that define the distinctive energies of various spaces, unraveling the mythologies constructed around them. Through her lens, she captures the inevitability of these dichotomies slipping into what may initially seem mundane, only to be transformed into sources of profound beauty.
The evolving nature of Jia Hao’s project mirrors her relentless pursuit of understanding the intricacies of the world around her. As she navigates through the dichotomies and explores the depths of everyday experiences, she sheds light on the extraordinary aspects concealed within the ordinary.
Jia Hao website: https://jia-hao.format.com
