Photography of Weng Fen

[ic-racer]

Anyone know anything about Weng Fen? I stand by a 50inch by 60inch c-print of one of the "Staring at the Sea" series each day while I wait for an elevator at work.

Since I do enlargements of 8x10 negatives, I would think I could tell one if I saw one, but in the case of this particular print, I honestly can't say that it is from an 8x10 negative. It looks so good upon fine scrutiny that I suspect it may be from an even larger fromat.

Here is a link to some of his photographs if you are not familiar with the artist: http://www.mexicanpictures.com/headingeast/2007/02/weng-fen.html

http://www.artnet.com/Artists/ArtistHomePage.aspx?artist_id=423873873&page_tab=Artworks_for_sale

I think our curators did a good job on acquiring this print. Standing close to this excellent print is a fantastic experience. The viewing experience goes beyond what one might expect from the somewhat mundane subject matter.

It really makes me want to try some enlargements of 8x10 in that size.

[Nathan Potter]

Interesting to see an original by him I bet. I never assumed that the originals were of especially high quality, as you describe, but I realized they were large. I've only stumbled onto his images occasionally on the internet. I've not been able to find any technical data. The prints recently command apparently high prices. I find them mundane and overly documentary but they employ a cute gimmick which I think is important in placing the images in a historical and political context and this contributes to their value as true works of art. I believe he is an art teacher at a Chinese university.

Nate Potter, Washington DC.