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Last modified on Fri 20 Jan 2023 10.42 GMT
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These images are from 21st Century Types, 2005. The body of work is based on Lau’s research into portraits made by 19th-century and early 20th-century western photographers in China. Lau says: ‘Through this project, I am making a comment on imperialist visions of the ‘exotic’ Chinese. I want participants to think about how different people have been represented in portraits over time, and today. Placing people in this constructed historic setting and taking their portrait is a great way to start that conversation.’
Photograph: Grace Lau
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Lau realised that Chinese subjects were placed in a Victorian studio setting as ‘exotic subjects’. Her project highlights this relationship, and reverses the roles for 21st-century participants
Photograph: Grace Lau
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Lau’s photographic studio is made of mock traditional Chinese furniture, with a decorative backdrop and accessories including a soft toy panda rug
Photograph: Grace Lau
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Participants are asked to pose in a similar formal manner to subjects in the Victorian studio portraits but to keep their contemporary accessories such as phones, shopping bags and clothing
Photograph: Grace Lau
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From 21 January to 12 February, Lau will revive the project as Portraits in a Chinese Studio in a Southampton shopping centre
Photograph: Grace Lau
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A free portrait will be emailed to each participant and copies of all the photographs will be donated to Southampton city archives to create a social record of communities in 2023
Photograph: Grace Lau
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Lau has exhibited widely in the UK, including at the National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain and the Turner Contemporary
Photograph: Grace Lau
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Portraits in a Chinese Studio is presented by John Hansard Gallery as part of its Co-creating Public Space programme, a two-year initiative that explores thoughts around creativity and public space in relation to gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age, ability, access, health and wellbeing. After Southampton, the project will tour other cities across England
Photograph: Grace Lau
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