FUN DIVE OF AN ALCHEMIST

This photo series is inspired by Shuai Feng, who is an artist with a unique painting style. Many symbolic, enchanting, and mysterious characters living in the depths of the collective subconsciousness revealed in her art, much like the process of alchemy. She discovered a weird bird transforming and evolving within her paintings. She realized it is not only a self-portrait but also a connection to deep memories. In the science of mythology, the water bird is at the center of death and renewal; it is a portal to another time.

Shuai lives in a small village by the seaside on Bali island. Over the years, she has learned free diving and has become a professional athlete, participating in free dive competitions. She mentions that when diving deep into water, the body’s functions adjust to the water, metabolism slows down, energy concentrates in the core, and people are more likely to hold their breath. But the most intriguing aspect is that deep diving into water gives a sensation of reawakening ancient memories, much like a Black Sea journey depicted in her paintings.

The village she resides in is at the foot of Mount Gunung Agung. Beautiful rice fields and traditional agriculture evoke a sense of Dewi Sri, the Balinese equivalent of Demeter. The mother volcano Gunung Agung is awe-inspiring. She embodies strength, dependability, energy, danger, and creativity. As we capture photos, Shuai dives into the sky at the foot of Agung.

Credits:

Photography | Art Direction | Styling: Fang Yan @fancyphoto007

Model: Shuai Feng @fengshuai1028 @fengshuaiart

Silk scarf: Shuai’s Artwork