Stark, erotic images of Chinese youth stir controversy

Wilfred Chan
By Wilfred Chan, CNN
3 minute read
Updated 9:58 AM EST, Fri February 24, 2017
Ren Hang is a self-taught, Beijing-based photographer whose color-blasted, abstract erotic snapshots have recently made him one of Asia's most popular contemporary artists.
Ren Hang is a self-taught, Beijing-based photographer whose color-blasted, abstract erotic snapshots have recently made him one of Asia's most popular contemporary artists.
Ren Hang
The photographer -- who turns 30 this year -- began shooting nude images of his friends while in college, as a way to relieve boredom. Untitled, 2015 © Ren Hang / courtesy Stieglitz19<br />
The photographer -- who turns 30 this year -- began shooting nude images of his friends while in college, as a way to relieve boredom. Untitled, 2015 © Ren Hang / courtesy Stieglitz19
Stieglitz19
Ren Hang is known for his sexually expressive, often absurd images, which the artist says come from his own stream of consciousness. <br />
Ren Hang is known for his sexually expressive, often absurd images, which the artist says come from his own stream of consciousness.
Ren Hang
In Ren Hang's imagination, everything is an uninhibited metaphor for desire. Even plants and pools of water are charged with lust.<br />
In Ren Hang's imagination, everything is an uninhibited metaphor for desire. Even plants and pools of water are charged with lust.
Ren Hang
Ren pares away the backgrounds, leaving few distractions for his abstract human sculptures.<br />
Ren pares away the backgrounds, leaving few distractions for his abstract human sculptures.
Ren Hang
Ren's models are usually naked and pale Chinese youths, wearing blasé expressions. He shoots his own friends, and sometimes photographs fans who apply online. Untitled, 2015 © Ren Hang / courtesy Stieglitz19<br />
Ren's models are usually naked and pale Chinese youths, wearing blasé expressions. He shoots his own friends, and sometimes photographs fans who apply online. Untitled, 2015 © Ren Hang / courtesy Stieglitz19
Ren Hang
Mirjam Kooiman, who curated Ren's works for a new show at Amsterdam photography museum Foam, believes the photographs represent freedom. "It's visual poetry. It's without limits," she says
Mirjam Kooiman, who curated Ren's works for a new show at Amsterdam photography museum Foam, believes the photographs represent freedom. "It's visual poetry. It's without limits," she says
Stieglitz19
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"His treatment of the body is so without boundaries. There's no hierarchy between the female and the male model in his work," Kooiman adds. "It's very telling about these tendencies of sexuality and queerness in Chinese society and how his generation is dealing with it."<br />
"His treatment of the body is so without boundaries. There's no hierarchy between the female and the male model in his work," Kooiman adds. "It's very telling about these tendenci