Person
Artist
Ren Hang
任航
Date of birth
1987
Date of death
2017
Place Of birth
Changchun, Jilin, China
Biography
Ren Hang, born in 1987 in Changchun, Jilin, was a highly acclaimed photographer known for his playful and provocative capturing of the Beijing youth sub-culture. Despite not formally studying art or photography, Ren began taking photographs as a hobby during his college years while studying marketing and advertising. His unique style was influenced by artist Shūji Terayama, and his images became recognizable for their surreal intertwining of limbs, flesh, and genitals, as well as his exploration of Chinese queerness and sexuality. Ren faced censorship from the Chinese government due to the nudity in his works, but he remained dedicated to capturing the beauty and authenticity of the human body. Tragically, he took his own life in February 2017 at the age of 29. Ren's legacy continues to inspire and he is recognized as one of China's most significant photographers, drawing comparisons to artists such as Guy Bourdain and Ryan McGinley.
