ji zhou constructs environmental illusions with maps and books

ji zhou constructs environmental illusions with maps and books
(above) ‘the map no. 5’, 2014
all images courtesy of klein sun gallery

ji zhou: civilized landscape
klein sun gallery, new york
now through october 10th, 2015

from now until october 10, 2015, klein sun gallery presents ‘civilized landscape’, an exhibition of photographic works by beijing-based artist ji zhou. the image-based compositions transpose two ordinary objects — maps and books — into familiar visual representations of environmental and urban landscapes.

the artist’s distinct process tells as much of a story as the final image does — for these illusions, ji zhou collects maps and hand-sculpts the paper into peaks and troughs to mimic mountaintops. the topographic representations become literal depictions of the map’s overall purpose, translating function into form. additionally, for the series of ‘maquettes’, ji zhou sculpts stacks of books into cantilevered towers resembling city skyscrapers.

‘the map no. 2’, 2013

these ‘rural’ and ‘urban’ illusions are finally photographed, further augmenting reality. ji zhou chooses to probe rather than offer his own conclusion: what is civilization — a constructed illusion created by man or an inevitable product of evolution?

‘the map no. 5’, 2015

‘the map no. 4’, 2014

‘the map no. 3’, 2014

‘maquette no. 1’, 2014

‘maquette no. 2’, 2014

‘maquette no. 3’, 2014

‘maquette no. 4’, 2014

‘maquette no. 5’, 2015