Tianrun Shi’s infrared vision, a poetic dialogue between nature and city
Born in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin in 1998, an area rich in natural beauty and cultural history, Tianrun Shi developed a profound appreciation for the intricate relationship between urban environments and the natural world. This early connection to nature sparked a lifelong exploration of how the two forces interact, coexist, and often conflict—a theme that now echoes throughout his artistic practice.
Tianrun pursued his formal education at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, where he studied under the guidance of renowned mentors Peter Suszynski and Tom Gugler. Their mentorship played a pivotal role in shaping his artistic sensibility and refining his technical mastery of photography. It was there that Tianrun Shi began to explore photography not merely as a medium of representation, but as a vessel for emotion, depth, and philosophical inquiry.
Through his lens, Tianrun Shi captures the fragile, poetic dialogue between cities and the natural elements that surround and exist within them. His work reflects a deep-rooted search for truth and beauty, filtered through a unique visual language that invites viewers into his perspective. His ongoing long-term project focuses on infrared photography, particularly of landscapes, using a process that is both technically complex and creatively rewarding.
Employing the trichrome technique—where three black-and-white images are captured using different color filters and then combined into one color print—Tianrun revives the visual qualities of Aerochrome, a discontinued infrared film stock known for its surreal color palette. This method allows foliage and other natural elements to appear in vibrant pinkish-red hues, transforming everyday scenes into dreamlike terrains. Each image becomes a portal, offering a view into a reimagined world that is simultaneously familiar and foreign.
For Tianrun Shi, every stage of the process is filled with uncertainty, yet it is precisely this unpredictability that fuels his artistic journey. His work is not only a study in visual transformation but also a metaphor for his personal experience—moving from China to the United States and navigating the emotional terrain of displacement, wonder, and rediscovery.
Through his photographs, he invites others to join him in this exploration, to see the world through different eyes, and to embrace the beauty that lies just beyond the visible spectrum.
All images courtesy of Tianrun Shi, shared with permission
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