CHINA CONTEMPORARY ARTIST: Yang Jinsong

A Gutted Fish Painting, Fei Jia Cun, Beijing, China 
Photograph (c) William Avedon/All rights reserved

Yang Jinsong Painting in his Studio, Fei Jia Cun, Beijing, China

Photograph (c) William Avedon/All rights reserved

YANG JINSONG, a leading Chinese painter from the Chong Qing municipality, in his studio in the Fei Jia Cun Artist Village in Beijing, China. Yang explains his 'consumerist-critical' paintings depicting fish, traditionally a symbol of wealth in Chinese culture, critique China’s construction boom and over-development by depicting bulldozers infesting the fish’s gutted innards. Yang often paints himself with his wife, She Cai, surrounded by emblems such as pollution, electrical appliances, and cigarette butts (2nd image, center painting), symbolizing China’s rapid development and embrace of consumerism.

The Fei Jia Cun Artist Village is one of several art communities surrounding Beijing where leading painters, sculptors and photographers from across China work and exhibit. These art villages represent the forefront of China’s Abstract, Pop, and Neo-Realist artists. – by William Avedon

Yang Jinsong Website

CHINA CONTEMPORARY ARTIST: Wang Xing

Wang Xing, Dragon Sculpture, Fei Jia Cun, Beijing, China
Photograph (c) William Avedon/All rights reserved

Wang Xing, Dragon Sculpture, Fei Jia Cun, Beijing, China
Photograph (c) William Avedon/All rights reserved

Photographs (c) William Avedon/All rights reserved

Mythical Creature by artist Wang Xing
Photograph (c) William Avedon/All rights reserved

Chinese sculptor WANG XING is from China’s He Bei province. Above, Wang Xing was creating a series of nine dragon sculptures for an exhibition in Beijing. Wang’s clay and bronze sculptures are a mixture of Buddhist art, Japanese lacquer, and ancient mythical texts depicting half-human half-animal creatures. He is fascinated by the concept of dragons in Chinese culture as they were traditionally symbolic of the Emperor.

Wang’s studio is in the Fei Jia Cun Artist Village on the outskirts of Beijing, China. Fei Jia Cun is one of at least 10 artist communities surrounding Beijing where painters, sculptors and photographers from across China have come to work and exhibit. These art villages represent the forefront of China’s Abstract, Pop, and Neo-Realist artists. –William Avedon

More China Contemporary Artists:

Yang Jinsong

Yang Li Ming

PETROGLYPHS: V-Bar-V Ranch

Petroglyphs, V-Bar-V Ranch, Verde Valley, Arizona

V-Bar-V Heritage site is the largest known petroglyph site in the Verde Valley (located outside of Sedona), as well as one of the best preserved. The Rock Art above is considered to be from an advanced settlement of the Southern Sinagua people who occupied the area between A.D. 1150 and 1400.

TONY MENDOZA: Bob (2006- )

Photograph (c) Tony Mendoza/All rights reserved

Photograph (c) Tony Mendoza/All rights reserved

Photograph (c) Tony Mendoza/All rights reserved

TONY MENDOZA is a Cuban-American photographer. Born in Havana, he moved to Miami with his family in 1960, graduated from Yale with a Bachelor of Engineering, Harvard with a Master of Architecture, before becoming a full time photographer in 1973.

Mendoza has received three National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships, a Guggenheim Photography Fellowship as well as two Creative Writing fellowships from the Ohio Arts Council. His photographs have exhibited in major museums around the country. His most well known book Ernie is a photographic memoir centered around a cat he encountered when he moved in to an apartment in New York City. Mendoza is currently an instructor of photography at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Galleries.

Tony Mendoza Website

More Dog Park Photographs

JEFFREY AARONSON: Borderland

Saguaro Cactus, AIO Highway, Arizona, 2007
(c) Jeffrey Aaronson/All rights reserved

Border Patrol, All Terrain Vehicles, Laredo, Texas, 2008
(c) Jeffrey Aaronson/All rights reserved

Sister Maria, Palomas, Arizona, 2007
(c) Jeffrey Aaronson/All rights reserved

The border between the United States and Mexico is a construct beginning at the Pacific, snaking through the southwest desert and ending in the Gulf of Mexico. The borderland, the zone existing near the frontier, is an area of messy vitality by virtue of the collision of cultures living within it's boundaries. To live in the borderland is to live at the end of the country, the last place before another place starts.

JEFFREY AARONSON was born in Hollywood, California and lives and works in Santa Barbara. He traveled the border of the United States and Mexico, "a region of low-rise towns and deserts dotted with saguaro cacti and aluminum trailers", in search of cultural phenomena. Aaronson's work has been exhibited at Galerie Kashya Hildebrand, Zurich and N.Y., Photo Miami, Houston Center for Photographys 27th Anniversary Members Exhibition (Juror´s Commendation from Katharine Ware), David Floria Gallery, Aspen, Colorado and Scope Basel. He was a 2009 Critical Mass Finalist, nominated for the 2009 Santa Fe Prize 2009, won the 2002 Graphis Award from American Photography, among several others. Jeffrey was one of 100 photographers invited to participate in Review Santa Fe 2009. Please click on images to see the photographs enlarged.

Jeffrey Aaronson Website
Galerie Kashya Hildebrand, Zurich

MARCIA MARTIN: Lucies Nature Award

Stillness (c) Marcia Martin/All rights reserved

Leaf and Sparkles (c) Marcia Martin/All rights reserved

MARCIA MARTIN won an International Photography Award (The Lucies) in the Nature category for her Portfolio of Floating Leaves. Martin is represented by Contemporary Works. Marcia Martin Website

JOSEF HOFLEHNER: Photographs

Ocean Pools, Taiwan, 2009 (c) Josef Hoflehner/All rights reserved

Santa Monica Pier, Ca, 2009 (c) Josef Hoflehner/All rights reserved

J O S E F H O F L E H N E R.C O M

STEVE McCURRY: Revealing The World

Jodhpur, India, 2004 (c) Steve McCurry/All rights reserved

Weligama, Sri Lanka (c) Steve McCurry/All rights reserved

Africa, 1986 (c) Steve McCurry/All rights reserved

...what matters most is that each picture stands on its own,
with its own place and feeling

"STEVE McCURRY, recognized as one of the world's finest image-makers, has won many of photography's top awards. Best known for his evocative color images, McCurry endeavors to capture the essence of human struggle and joy in the finest documentary tradition. Many of his photographs have become modern icons." (from Magnum Photos). An exhibition of color photographs "The Unguarded Moment" is currently at the Open Shutter Gallery in Durango, Colorado until Oct. 1. The upcoming Special Anniversary Issue of "FOCUS" profiles photographer Steve McCurry.

Steve McCurry Website and Blog

Magnum Photos Portfolio
FOCUS Preview

DAMION BERGER: In The Deep End

Kayta, Stade Nautique Ranier III, Monaco
(c) Damion Berger/All rights reserved

Hula Hoops, Le Roccabella, Monaco (c) Damion Berger/All rights reserved

The human body submerged underwater and illuminated by an ever-changing quality of light provide all the elements for a playful ballet seemingly detached from gravity

In 1995, Londoner DAMION BERGER was offered an assistant position with Helmut Newton while he was still at boarding school in England, a turning point in his life. Assisting both Mr. Newton and moonlighting as a student of Business at the International University of Monaco, eventually led him to New York to study Photography at Parsons School of Design. His work has been featured in PDN, American Photo, Hotshoe, B & W Magazine, The Sunday New York Times and the British Journal of Photography. Editioned Gelatin Silver prints are on view at Bonni Benrubi Gallery, 41 East 57th Street, NYC. Damion Berger was one of 100 photographers invited to participate in Review Santa Fe 2009.

Damion Berger Website
Bonni Benrubi Gallery: Hot Fun In The Summer Time to September 5th

WILLIAM L. CASTLEMAN: Astrophotography

M-31 Andromeda Galaxy (Click Images to Enlarge)
Photograph (c) William L. Castleman/All rights reserved

M-101 Pinwheel Galaxy in Ursa Major
Photograph (c) William L. Castleman/All rights reserved

M-104 Sombrero Galaxy in Virgo
Photograph (c) William L. Castleman/All rights reserved

M-8 Lagoon Nebula in Sagittarius
Photograph (c) William L. Castleman/All rights reserved

Castleman with telescopes for the 2009 Texas Star Party

The Milky Way Rises Over 2009 Texas Star Party: View Time Lapse Video
William L. Castleman Website

100 EYES MAGAZINE

from Living Stone, Dying River/100 Eyes Magazine
Photograph (c) Khaled Hasan/All rights reserved

from Children of the Black Dust/100 Eyes Magazine
Photograph (c) Shehzad Noorani/All rights reserved

from The Stone Throwers/100 Eyes Magazine
Photograph (c) Tanvir Ahmed/All rights reserved

“Pathshala is far more than teaching photography. Pathshala is about using the language of images to bring about social change.”

ANDY LEVIN is a photographer living in New Orleans, Louisiana and a former contributing photographer at Life Magazine and Black Star. In 2007 Levin was a finalist for the Eugene Smith Grant for Documentary Photography. 100 Eyes Magazine is edited, written, (beautifully) designed and programmed by Levin.

SHAHIDUL ALAM founded the Drik Picture Library in 1989 in Dhaka, Bangladesh and Pathshala, the South Asian Institute of Photography, taking advantage of a World Press Photo initiative. Most of the photographers showing work in this issue of 100Eyes went to Pathshala or taught there.

From Andy Levin's Introduction: "Alam and his fellow teachers, along with the World Press folks including Robert Pledge of Contact Press, have done a fantastic job. The students are exposed to classic photojournalism, poring over old issues of Life and National Geographic. Having spent hours going through the Drik archives I can testify to the training of the photographers– they always look for the single image that tells the whole story."

You can view the entire issue of Bangladesh x Bangladesh HERE

Andy Levin Website
Drik NEWS Photo Agency
Pathshala Institue of Photography
Shahidul Alam blog: Mandela

PAUL McDONOUGH: NYC in 35mm b/w

Priest With Dark Glasses, NYC, 1970
(c) Paul McDonough/All rights reserved, Courtesy Sasha Wolf Gallery

Blind Man, Old Woman, Hari Krishnas, NYC, 1972
(c) Paul McDonough/All rights reserved, Courtesy Sasha Wolf Gallery

5th Avenue Parade, Group of Men and Boy, NYC, 1969
(c) Paul McDonough/All rights reserved, Courtesy Sasha Wolf Gallery

Photograph by Garry Winogrand of Tod Papageorge
helping a lady across the street, with Paul McDonough on the right

PAUL McDONOUGH documented life in New York City in 35mm black and white during the late 60's and early 70's. His images capture the "improv theater" feel the city streets had at that time. His introduction into the photography scene, including workshops with Garry Winogrand, came through fellow photographer Tod Papageorge. It's probably fair to say Papageorge influenced McDonough to get into photography after his earlier career as a studio painter. They had known each other literally since kindergarten and grade school. When Tod was 12, his family moved to a house just across the street from Paul's.

In the late 60's and 70's, you would find McDonough, Tod Papageorge, Garry Winogrand and Joel Meyerowitz in the Museum of Modern Art cafe deep in discussion. Before the 2000 MOMA expansion that now brings visitors in by the hordes, the MOMA cafe and sculptor garden was the nicest place in NYC to hang out over coffee. Beautifully designed by Philip Johnson, it had just the right atmosphere. On any given day you could find yourself sitting next to Cartier-Bresson at one table and sculptor Claes Oldenburg at another.

McDonough has been the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation. His work is in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, the New York Public Library, the Dreyfus Corporation and many other public and private collections. He's taught photography at Yale University, Pratt Institute, Cooper Union, Parsons School of Design and Fordham University. Expect Paul McDonough's book New York, 1968-1978 to be published by Umbrage Editions in 2010.

He is represented by Sasha Wolf Gallery

MATTHIAS VRIENS-McGRATH: Matthew Avedon in the Maldives

Matthew Avedon, the Maldives. Photograph (c) Matthias Vriens-McGrath

Matthew Avedon, the Maldives. Photograph (c) Matthias Vriens-McGrath

Matthew Avedon, the Maldives. Photograph (c) Matthias Vriens-McGrath

MATTHIAS VRIENS-McGRATH is a NYC/LA based Dutch fashion and fine art photographer. His signature style "uses humorous erotic overtones to inject personality and wit" into his photographs. Matthias has had solo exhibitions in NYC and the Netherlands. In addition to his work as a photographer, he has also been Creative Director of Giorgio Armani and Senior Art Director at the Gucci Group.

Matthias Vriens McGrath

Matthew Avedon: DNA, New York

Matthew Avedon 2013 Update

INES D'OREY: Porto Interior

Casa da Música (c) Ines d'Orey/All rights reserved

Piscina de Campanhă (c) Ines d'Orey/All rights reserved

Aeroporto Francisco Sá Carneiro (c) Ines d'Orey/All rights reserved

These images are part of an ongoing project, the result of my interest in strange and, at the same time, familiar spaces. They are the result of an urban experience, the experience of Porto, the city where I was born and where I live.

+ + +

INES d'OREY was born in the northern Portuguese city of Porto. She was educated at the London College of Printing and won the FNAC Award for Talents in Photography in 2007. Her ongoing project "Porto Interior" comprises a series of large-format photographs of public places in Porto. Using a series of photographic manipulations, d'Orey alters the urban motifs to impose the atmosphere she finds appropriate. Her aim is to capture the spirit of the place and intensify it so that it seems to have origin in another world. "They become images of mysterious transit zones, imbued with a melancholy beauty." Ines d'Orey was one of 100 photographers invited to participate in Review Santa Fe 2009. Her website.

JESSICA TODD HARPER: Interior Exposure

(12-time Olympic Medalist)
Dara Torres at home in Florida with her daughter

from Newsweek 2009 (c) Jessica Todd Harper/All rights reserved

Self Portrait with Christopher, Papa, and Ah-Choo, 2003
(c) Jessica Todd Harper/All rights reserved

Becky with Zephyr and Christopher, 2004
(c) Jessica Todd Harper/All rights reserved

(Untitled) 2009 (c) Jessica Todd Harper/All rights reserved

There are no guarantees that if you work hard enough, or are talented enough, that you will be successful, be able to support yourself, or importantly, make a meaningful contribution to others. But in the meantime, if you are an artist, the art just comes - whether you like it or not- because you can't stop it.

Read the complete Interview with Jessica Todd Harper and Michael Werner on Two Way Lens. View Jessica Todd Harper website

NICHOLAS VREELAND: Karnataka, India

Goat Herder, 2007. Karnataka, India (click to enlarge)

Photograph (c) Nicholas Vreeland/All rights reserved

Tiger Boy, 2007. Indoor, Karnataka, India.
Photograph (c) Nicholas Vreeland/All rights reserved

About Nicholas Vreeland
Rato Foundation Photographs
Rato Dratsang Foundation Exhibitions
An Open Heart by The Dalai Lama, Edited by Nicholas Vreeland

FERIT KUYAS: City of Ambition

Security Officer, Office Building, Chongqing, China 2005
Photograph (c) Ferit Kuyas/All rights reserved
Click images to enlarge

Restaurant Boats, Changjiang River, Chongqing, China 2005
Photograph (c) Ferit Kuyas/All rights reserved

Construction Site, Changjiang Nr. 1 Road, Chongqing, China 2005

Photograph (c) Ferit Kuyas/All rights reserved

Jialing River, Huanghuayuan Bridge, Chongqing, China 2005
Photograph (c) Ferit Kuyas/All rights reserved

FERIT KUYAS was born in Istanbul, Turkey. His career in photography followed his studies in architecture and law in Zurich, Switzerland. His most recent project CITY OF AMBITION: FAST FORWARD IN CHINA is a personal view of Chongqing, one of the largest cities in the world. Located in Southwest China in the Sichuan region, it was the capitol of China during World War II, now populated by almost 32 million people.

Kuyas has captured these images with a view camera on 4x5"color film. His book “City of Ambition” will be published in October 2009 (German Edition, Benteli Publishers) and spring 2010 (English Edition, Mets & Schilt Publishers). His work is available through the Stephen Cohen Gallery in Los Angeles and Galerie Monika Wertheimer in Oberwil, Switzerland. He was one of 100 photographers invited to participate in Review Santa Fe 2009. Ferit Kuyas website