Beijing-based photographer No. 223 documents the people and relationships in the world around him through a lens of intimacy. His work, self-described as “free, spontaneous, unconventional, and unreasonable,” offers viewers a deeply personal look into his views on sexuality, the human body, and life in general.
While best known for his photography, No. 223 is also an avid author and independent publisher. Despite his versatility in mediums, his overall creative aspirations are one in the same. He tells us, “Sex is an essential part of life, so I try to depict as such in my works. It’s just like eating, sleeping, going out, and socializing. I just choose to record it objectively, not for the purpose of voyeurism or exposing secrets. I like the human body, so naturally, that means a lot of my works will be related to the human form.”
编号223的相片中呈递的人和事，仿佛随处充满着亲密的体温。这正如他对自己作品的定义：“自由、即兴、放荡、悬疑”——契合了“私摄影”的概念，也契合了人们对私生活的好奇心。
编号223是来自北京的摄影艺术家、作家和独立出版人。他说：“于我的作品中，性是一个人成长必然的存在，等同于吃饭睡觉逛街聚会，我只是用一个客观的心态把它们记录下来，不为了窥探也不为了发掘什么私密。我喜欢身体，这决定了我会拍很多跟身体有关的作品。”
For personal projects, No. 223 often enlists friends as models. He’s found this approach to produce a much more organic and collaborative dynamic that allows everyone to be themselves. “The subjects in my photographs are often chosen subconsciously,” he shares of his intuitive approach. “For example, the first time that I meet somebody, I might have a strong desire to take their photo. On the other hand, when it comes to friends who I’ve known for a long time, I may not want to just casually take their photo. The action of photography comes instinctively. Some of my subjects will think that I’ve captured a sexier or more carefree version of their normal selves, while others will think that I made them look like a mess without proper styling, but to me, I feel like I’m just showing them in a natural state.”
这些身体呈现着自然、放松或紧张的模样，它们都来自编号223身边的朋友，因此在拍摄的时候，双方通常都不会有心坎和隔阂。“我拍摄对象的选择，往往由我潜意识的审美来决定，比如我看到某个人的第一眼，我可能就很想给Ta拍照；有的可能认识很久的朋友，我也没有轻易拿起相机拍摄Ta，这是我个人潜在的行为激发……有的人觉得我挖掘了Ta更性感、更放纵的状态，有的人觉得我拍摄的Ta太垮了，没有造型，其实我觉得是更自然的状态。”这一切，是由背后那个摄影师个人潜在的行为激发，一切都源于主观的“私”。
Being that No. 223’s photography is so closely interlinked with his own life and interpersonal relationships, there are certain topics that he’s continuously inspired by and hopes to further explore in his work going forward. “What moves me the most is observing people as they slowly change over time,” No. 223 tells us. “Their skin, their gaze, their hair, the wrinkles around their eyes, their body, and so on. I wish I had the chance to capture these changes that I notice every time I see them.”
既然是参杂着私人的感受，那么必然也会有想要一拍再拍的时刻，编号233说，“最让我心动的是一个人在岁月在时间的慢慢前进中所产生的细微的变化，Ta的发肤、眼神、头发、眼角、体型等等发生的变化，我想要每一次见面的时候都可以拍摄Ta的这些成长的变化。”
For No. 223, his creative objectives aren’t just about the superficial documentation of personal moments. The intimate nature of his work reflects his ambitions of understanding the notion of self. His photography is both passive observation and a form of self-expression. “Many of my works are about my personal journey and the things I’ve encountered in my daily life. My works that concern sexuality and the human form fall into the latter category, but it’s not that I’m focusing on sex or the human body, but rather, I see my work as being related to life and growth. Sex just happens to be a part of that.”
Ultimately, No. 223’s creativity is driven by a personal desire to better understand his own role in this world as well as the ever-changing relationship between humans and society.
但“私摄影”远不止亲密的镜头表达。所谓的“私”，更是一种“我”对外界的看法和表达。“其实我个人作品更多的关注在自身的成长和日常所见，而身体内容的摄影是归属在这些日常里面的，并非主要拍性和身体。我的作品里面有日常有成长，有人有物，自然也会有性……”编号223的作品，也正是通过自己的镜头，在试图一次次阐述自我、他人和社会之间的关系。
