SHENGZHE

For the first time, but perhaps not the last, an artist from the Far East gave an interview to Pineapple, namely Shengzhe from China.

Could we start with some background information about you? Where you grow up, where you based, how did you get interested in arts?

我出生在中国，小学二年级就开始学习美术绘画，直到大学学习了设计，因为是艺术生，所以在考学前每天的日子就是联系画画，目前做的是一名创意策划，会接触很多的拍摄与创作。

I was born in China and started to study art painting in the second grade until I studied design in college. Because I am an art student, my daily days before I took the exams were contact painting and drawing, and I am currently working as a creative planner and will be exposed to a lot of shooting and creation.

How difficult is it nowadays for an artist who photographs mostly naked men in a country that is not known for its tolerance of such things? Do you see progress in this area over the years?

其实在中国的环境给了我很多的创作灵感，但是由于我拍摄的题材限制没有什么合适的平台可以发布自己的作品，中国的科技在不断进步，但也可能是进步的速度太快显得文化方面不够包容。

In fact, the environment in China has given me a lot of creative inspiration, but due to the limitations of the subjects I shoot there is no suitable platform to publish my work. China’s technology is constantly improving, but perhaps the speed of progress is too fast to seem culturally inclusive.

Is there any relationship between your creativity and your motherland?

有关系，我的祖国给了我很多创作灵感，我很喜欢东方的传统文化，非常让我着迷。

There is a relationship, my motherland gives me a lot of creative inspiration, and I love the traditional culture of the East, which is very fascinating to me.

Ever gotten into any trouble with your work?

目前没有遇到过太大的麻烦，我还是希望可以在工作中不断成长，让自己的能力变得更加强大。

I haven’t encountered too much trouble so far, and I still hope I can grow and become stronger in my work.

How difficult is to find models for you and how do you do?

找到合适的模特比较难，因为每组照片适合的模特风格不同，合适的模特才会产出好作品。有时会有网友私信我想要被我拍摄，我会在其中寻找合适的模特进行合作，还有些时候是我看到了想要拍摄的男孩主动私信，但是在很多情况下对方不会回复我，有的觉得我的拍摄尺度太大，有的不喜欢我拍摄的风格，觉得无法欣赏，我觉得自己拍的作品风格很鲜明，就像榴莲一样，喜欢的人会很喜欢，不喜欢的人会很讨厌，很少有人看过我拍的东西觉得没有什么感觉。

Is complicated because different stories require different styles of model and I always try to find the best model for my idea. Sometimes I get private messages from people who want to be photographed by me, and I look for suitable models to cooperate with, and sometimes I see boys who want to be photographed and take the initiative to send private messages. Many times, when I send a message, the person doesn’t reply to me. Some feel that the scale of my shooting is too big, some don’t like the style of my shooting and feel that they can’t appreciate it. I feel that the style of my shooting is very distinctive, just like durian, those who like it will like it very much, those who don’t like it will hate it, very few people who have seen my shooting feel nothing.

How is the process during a regular shoot with you. Do you tell to models specifically what to do?

一般拍摄我会和模特聊整租照片的感觉和主题的背后故事，让模特先感受一下状态，在拍摄时会知道模特的动作和应有的情绪。

In general, I always talk with the model about the feeling of the whole story and the story behind the theme. Because we talk things through, it’s easier for the model to get a feel for what I expect from him and easier for me to take the photo.

What are the characteristics or qualities of the ideal model for you?

我理想中的模特就是希望他不是个带有偏见的模特，有脑子，不要Dick和脑子长反了，有时一些模特会用自己喜欢男人的类型来看待所有人，这个放在发骚或找约炮谈恋爱身上合适但是那这种态度对待摄影师就显得很没有脑子很不专业，我希望我的模特不是Dick长在脑子上的正常人。

My ideal model is to hope that he is not a prejudiced model, have a brain, not a dick and the brain grows backwards, sometimes some models will use their favorite type of man to look at everyone, this put on the slut or looking for a date to fall in love with the body appropriate but that attitude towards the photographer is very brainless very unprofessional.

If there is one thing you would like to import from Western culture to the East, what would it be?

我不知道具体指的是哪方面，但是我蛮想亲自去西方看看的，不知道西方的朋友们会不会喜欢我拍摄的作品。如果是拍摄方面的话，西方的很多神话故事令我着迷，我很喜欢香艳有神秘的故事，我希望之后的更多作品可以以此为灵感。

I don’t know exactly what I’m referring to, but I’d quite like to go to the West and see for myself, and I don’t know if my friends in the West would like what I’m shooting. If it’s about shooting, I’m fascinated by many mythological stories in the West, and I really like stories that are romantic and mysterious, and I hope to use them as inspiration for my future works.