Photographer: Primol Xue. Model(s): Ling Chen. Source: Vogue China. Stylist: Michelle Zhao. Makeup: Wang Qian.
Posted Jul 02, 2020
Ling Chen floats to find the center of self in ‘Water Flight’ by Primol Xue for Vogue China, July 2020. High fashion is fused with fury, in this fluid form of avant-garde aquatica. What secrets lay beneath the water’s edge? She lays in the pool, submerged, as a full reflective shot is mirrored back. Gracing us with an image of half her beautiful face, her skin lays reflected on the water’s edge. Staring in the pool of potential we see life’s secrets staring into our soul. A reflection of time is echoed as aquatic art is unleashed. Her skin is awaken by the wet of the water as the bubbles start to rise. Wang Qian uses makeup as a tool to tell. A cast of chaotic colors commence. Creatively chasing over her face, leaving stripes of orange paint running down her leg. This is a story about playing without rules. The arc of her beauty blends with the aquatic overlay as each of her lovely features meld into the blue. Qian creates a lovely kind of chaos, as she artfully takes Ling’s face into the future. Caught in the echo chambers of time watching the mind deign to climb. It’s as if we are seeing her skin multiplied. A face of the future glows with a purplish tone, as she slips into the water and slides to sleep.
LONGING TO BE WE FLOAT FOREVER FREE
the water
in flight
rises high
to meet
the sky
wading true
into blue
we are
one with
the sun
forever
and none
we will
become
the sum
of truth
and all
that is
LOVE
poetic prose – tanyajo
