HEN MAN
http://www.chenmaner.com
Blog: http://blog.sina.com.cn/chenman
Email: chenman@gmail.com

Born in 1980, Beijing. China

Education

B.A., Photography & Media Studio, Central Academy of Fine Arts

Introduction

Born in Beijing, Chen Man graduated from the photography department of the design school under the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2005. Prior to her graduation, in 2003 she had already begun to lay the foundations of her career with the launch of a series of covers she produced for the Shanghai-based fashion magazine Vision—China’s first attempt at a progressive style magazine, inspired naturally at that moment by Wallpaper magazine. Between 2003 and 2007, she created a sequence of cover images that were unique within the history of Chinese magazine covers. Arty, manipulated, fantastical, almost over the top, the images captured the socio-cultural fascinations of the moment: a visual confluence of every nuance of glamour, surface, virtual energy and freedom of the imagination that was seeping into the bedrock of the emergent youth culture of the period. With hindsight, Chen Man’s photographs define that moment, simultaneously heralding the present, and paving the way for a future in which, courtesy of her success, this type of visual language is certain to become ubiquitous. It is amazing to reflect that half a decade ago, Chen Man was forging a brave new path through the prevailing mediocrity: that she was almost single-handedly precipitating a visual revolution.

Chen Man’s choice of field within the arena of photography—style, beauty, and fashion—dovetails with her innate fondness for glamour, and her insistence upon perfected beauty. As a photographer she is licensed to present fantastical illusions. She takes the illusions far beyond the mere moment captured in conventionally shot photographs. Her approach is first and foremost about taking total control of the image she creates: the motivation behind that control being to achieve the ultimate in beauty. Chen Man does this by accentuating every feature of her already beautiful models to a perfection that is almost unbearable, even as it defies the gaze to look away.

By: Karen Smith

 

Exhibitions and Awards 

[2011]

• Chen Man’ solo exhibition “Élan”, Today Arts Museum, Beijing, China, 2011.4.23-5.8

[2010]

• Charitable auction of Chen Man’s New series “love of the Earth”has carried on by ShangHai EXPO, jointly with Elle China, Loft Gallery Paris, June 2010, Shanghai, China
• New series “love of the Earth” will be unfolded in France Hall at ShangHai EXPO Beijing, June 2010, Shanghai, Beijing, China
•  “Red flag” and other few works have been participated at "The Exhibition of China Photography of 100 Years" in Shanghai Hall at Shanghai World Expo, Also documented in Mr. Liu Xiangcheng 《Shanghai: 1842-2010, a great city portrait》, May, 2010, Shanghai.
• “ Red Beauty”, Fabien Fryns Fine Art, Los Angeles, USA, May, 28 - 30th
• Chen Man’s solo exhibition, Loft gallery, Paris, France, March 17th, 2010
• Chen Man work 2003 - 2010 publishing", 3030 press Hong Kong, China, March 13th, 2010
• Chen Man’s solo exhibition, "Unbearable Beauty", OOIBOTOS gallery, Hong Kong, China, 2010, March 12th
• Chen Man’s solo exhibition F2 Gallery, LA. USA, March 10th, 2010

 [2009]

• ARMORY SHOW, New York, USA
• Art Paris, Paris, France
• Art Beijing, Beijing, China
• Love Dialogue, Shanghai, China (Special art project with CELINE)
• Art photo expo Opening exhibition, Art photo expo gallery, New York, USA
• Models, Mermaids and Medusa, Hai gallery, London, UK

[2008]

• In Fashion Photo Exhibition, Miami, USA, December 1-7th 2008
• Chen Man solo exhibition, Gallery Maeght, Paris, France, November 2008
• Chinese contemporary art show, Gallery Maeght, Barcelone, Spain, October 2008
• Art Beijing, Beijing, September 2008
• Contemporary, Shanghai, September 2008
• Chen Man the Wall, Ulens Centre of Contemporary Art(UCCA), August, 2008
• Mannism, Gallery When, Shenzhen, China ,July 2008
• Atelier de Pekin, Gallery Maeght, Paris, France, July 2008
• The Demolition Party, organised by Phillip Stark for Le Royal Monceau, Paris, France
• Design China, V&A Museum, London, England, Mars to June 2008 (chosen as poster )
• Chen Man solo exhibition , Gallery Loft, Paris, France, January 24th to March 24th 2008

[2007]

• Get It Louder, China
• Salon National d’art contemporain, Espace Cardin, Paris, France
• Force of Love, Nike space 706, Beijing, China

[2006]

• Get It Louder, China [2006], China
• The Wave –– Chinese Media Art Part 1, 1997-2004 Short and Experimental Films, Walker Art Centre, USA

[2005]

• FASHION AND STYLE IN PHOTOGRAPHY, MOSCOW, RUSSIA

[2004]

• “Beijing-Dezoned-Paris", Le Cube, Issy les Moulineaux, France
• "Out the Window-Spaces of Distraction", Tokyo, Japan
• "The Designed in France, Made in China" PAUL RICARD, Paris, France
•  “Short is More-Emotions”, CAPALBIO International Short Film Festival Awards

[2001]

• Macromedia “Wwwhat? Web can be flash” awards

CROSSOVER COOPERATIVE PARTNER：

BRAND	Exhibition	City
LEE	Make History	Beijing
Adidas	Original Sleek Series	Shanghai
Sisley	JOYN:VISCOM Studio－Sisley	Beijing/Shanghai
Celine	Celine “dialogue of love”	Shanghai
MOTOROLA	New Product campaign	Beijing
Pantene	Pantene 07-08 style party	Beijing
Converse	All stars endorsement	Beijing
Sony Ericsson	New product media press	Beijing
SUPREME AUPRES	Finding: the modern face of China	Beijing/New York
Dell	2009 Dell Alien laptop release press	Beijing
Joyce & Chanel	Paris//ShangHai//the ODYSSEY	Hong Kang
Absolut Vodka	Absolut Vodka China Limited Ed. Poster	Beijing/Asia
Ricoh	Camera endorsement	China/Japan
LANCOME	Rose by…	Worldwide
Gucci	Charity Show（In preparation）	Beijing
MARNI	Release press of 2010 FW bags	Beijing
iGoogle	“Red Beauty” customize  iGoogle background	China
Volkswagen	Beetles campaign	China
Apple.com.cn	Personal Webpage	China
Coach	70th anniversary exhibition (Working in progress)	New York