Introducing the World of Ren Hang

At 26, Ren Hang has already published six photography books, continually trumping conservative Chinese culture with his use of the nude. In a country where censorship extends to all aspects of life, Ren brings a dose of innocence to the task of irreverently awakening Chinese sexuality. YANYAN HUANG — What did you start photographing first? REN HANG — Everything I saw around me. Friends, nature, places. I’m still photographing these things now. YANYAN HUANG — Do you look to Western or Eastern culture for inspiration? REN HANG — Mostly Chinese culture. YANYAN HUANG — Which artists are you looking at these days? REN HANG — My favorite one is the Japanese avant-garde director and photographer Shuji Terayama. He studied with Nobuyoshi Araki. YANYAN HUANG — What kind of cameras do you like to use? REN HANG — I use multiple versions of a Minolta 35 mm film camera. Though I’ve experimented with all kinds of cameras, this…