Stanley is a Taiwanese photographer long based in Japan. This series is his award-winning work from the 2010 Nikon Salon Juna21, describing through the photographer's vision the most fundamental element of society — residential land. He used the Hasselblad 503CXi as the tool for this entire creation — calm, yet thought-provoking.

By Fujie Zhang / Stanley

• WordPress
• Facebook
• Instagram

Genzo: a Buddhist term. It means "illusory and without substance, empty — the impermanent face of the world."

This world is like a maze. Once inside, it's easy to unconsciously lose your way, and then to linger on, infatuated. In this environment we've grown used to, it feels as though some uncertain unknown hides within — we simply assume everything is under our control, that everything will proceed step by step.

Clinging to everything we currently have, fantasizing about a future we might gain — yet in this ever-changing age, things so often catch us off guard, running counter to the blueprints we planned.

I believe: "What the naked eye cannot see does not necessarily not exist. Conversely, what the naked eye can see does not necessarily truly exist."

At the very beginning of human society, people gathered in groups, developed tribes, then cooperated and competed. Through this whole chain of behavior, people can never do without a place to rest, reflect, and set out again — their dwelling. In every living environment, we can observe almost every individual's habits. And from these collective habits, we can feel the rhythm of the entire society.

In this work, most of the subjects are residential areas — the most fundamental element of society, the places where people dwell together. And the most fundamental elements of this great international society are its different societies.

In these works we can see the origin of what constitutes this society, observe each individual's habits, and thereby feel the entire world.

Everything around us in life is a visible-to-the-naked-eye "fundamental element of society" — while what the naked eye cannot see is the fact that this world is quietly transforming.

What is the visible illusion (the habitual environment)? What is the invisible reality (the maze)? Within this maze, I walk, explore, and feel — finding some clues to walk out of it. In these photographs, I captured both questions and clues.

The dawn at the exit — I think I can see it...

Camera: Hasselblad 503CXi
Lenses:Hasselblad Carl Zeiss Planar CF 80mm f/2.8 T*Hasselblad Carl Zeiss Distagon CF 60mm F3.5


Film: Kodak Portra 400NC

(Award-winning work, 2010 Japan Nikon Salon Juna21)

Further reading:
2021 Taipei Fashion Week Backstage | Leica M240