März 2025

In her hauntingly poetic project Faërie, Chinese photographer ZHOU Yang transforms historic literati gardens into timeless dreamscapes that defy the constraints of the physical world. Working with analog photography, Yang merges tradition with transformation, reviving spaces once built for meditation and escape into worlds of myth, memory, and longing. Exhibited across major festivals in China and beyond, her images beckon the viewer to step beyond the tangible, into the delicate space where culture, history, and fantasy blur.

In this conversation, we uncover the philosophical roots of her practice, her fascination with the unseen, and her belief in photography as a portal to an imagined yet utterly believable world.

If your photographs could whisper secrets to their viewers, what would they reveal about the places and people they capture?

My photographs would whisper “there’s a lot we can learn about ‘the other’ and about ourselves from people and places of the past and the present. That we’re all fundamentally the same. If we take the time to look carefully, we’ll find extraordinary beauty embedded within the ordinary.”

Your work often reimagines historical sites—if you could time travel to one of them before it became a landmark, what moment would you capture, and why?

I’m starting a National Park Service commission to photograph George Washington’s birthplace in Virginia. If I could travel back in time to that place, I’d create an artistic photographic documentary series about Washington so that we can get a better sense of how his upbringing shaped his character. As the military commander of the American Revolution, he voluntarily stepped away from power at the conclusion of the war. Washington also admonished an army colonel for advising that he be made the “King” of America. Finally, after two terms as president, Washington chose to not seek reelection. Washington’s strong moral convictions, exceptional leadership skills, and commitment to public service should be the model followed in Washington, DC, and in seats of power around the world.
From the quiet landscapes of America’s National Parks to the bustling streets of the world’s great cities, Xiomaro’s lens captures more than just images—it tells stories. As an internationally exhibited artist and curator, his work breathes new life into historic sites, documenting their cultural and natural significance while also preserving candid moments of urban life as future history.

Commissioned by the National Park Service and featured in prestigious exhibitions across the U.S., Europe, and China, Xiomaro’s photography has drawn the attention of The New York Times, the Boston Globe, and major news networks like CBS and ABC. His journey, however, is as compelling as his work. Once a corporate litigator and entertainment attorney, a life-changing battle with cancer led him to find solace and purpose in photography. Now, through his art, writing, and upcoming books on street photography, he continues to frame the world with a unique perspective that merges history, philosophy, and personal transformation.

In this interview, Xiomaro shares insights into his creative process, his passion for preservation, and the profound experiences that shaped his artistic vision.