By: Lina Lecaro
Bingqin (Zaccheo) Zhang steps out from the historic Ba Gong Building in Wuhan’s former Russian concession area. Since early childhood, her mother immersed her in a world of museums, art exhibitions, and concerts, laying the groundwork for her future artistic pursuits. A photograph taken at the age of five not only initiated her journey into photography but also marked her initial exploration into the realm of aesthetic beauty.
Her academic journey is equally captivating. While at the Communication University of China, Zaccheo pursued dual degrees in photography and television directing. Selected for an academic exchange program at the University of Westminster in the United Kingdom, this international experience broadened her artistic horizons, providing rich inspiration for her subsequent creations. Seeking to step beyond her comfort zone, she ventured to the United States, achieving master’s degrees in fine arts and fashion photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Zaccheo’s artistic works engage in a meaningful dialogue between the spiritual and material realms. Through the lens of photography, she explores new possibilities in modern art. Merging art and science, Zaccheo delves deeply into the study of photographic materials, viewing them as inherently diverse and youthful. Employing innovative experimental methods, she reintegrates photography with a close relationship to science. By relinquishing partial control of color to photographic materials, she allows them to guide the creative process, emphasizing their varied possibilities. Simultaneously, she introduces the concept of photography as a “container,” elevating the researchable aspects of photographic materials to a higher level.
Her distinction exploration of photographic materials not only diversifies the realm of photography but also underscores its close connection with science. Her fine art photography, akin to blossoms unfurling in the dark, encapsulates philosophical contemplation and artistic innovation.
Zaccheo’s series, “One Kind of Touch,” not only earned accolades from the International Photography Awards (IPA) but also received sponsorship from SCAD, resulting in a solo exhibition at Alexander Hall and featured displays at esteemed galleries such as Van Der Plas Gallery in New York. In 2022, her work “Heaven Tombstone” was featured at the Venice Biennale’s theme exhibition, “CONSCIOUSNESS International Exhibition.” Furthermore, her piece “The Death of Zhishen Lu” was selected for academic research by British scholar Aldo Branti and subsequently included in the book “Photology.”
Transitioning into fashion photography in 2021, Zaccheo infused her distinctive aesthetics and experimental techniques into the fashion realm. In New York, her work received acclaim for its unique visual appeal, earning widespread media coverage and numerous international awards.
Marking her directorial debut, the music and dance short film “I Don’t Remember” clinched the Best Dance Short Film award at the Rome Film Festival, showcasing her dedication to addressing issues pertaining to women and highlighting her profound insights as an artist with a keen sense of social responsibility. The work also received an honorable mention at the Tokyo International Short Film Festival.
Zaccheo firmly believes that the core of both art and fashion photography lies in creative thinking, asserting that art should serve reality. Roland Barthes’ quote from Camera Lucida, “photography as adventure” profoundly shapes her perspective, leading her to perceive each photographic endeavor as a unique life encounter, consistently broadening her horizons.
Her artistic influence spans the globe, with her works not only showcased but frequently published in prominent locations such as New York, Japan, Savannah, Chengdu, France, London, Italy, and Spain. Her pieces serve as focal points for scholarly research, featured in various magazines and interviews, illustrating her impact across diverse fields. Through her continuous exploration of the fusion of art and fashion and her contributions to women’s rights, she has emerged as a representative figure driving social progress. Her works, along with its underlying profound messages, showcase the charm of a young artist and highlight her extensive influence.
In the bustling crossroads of the New York art and fashion scene, Bingqin (Zaccheo) Zhang serves as the creative director of a distinguished jewelry company while managing her own innovative studio. Her artistic creations are not merely visual spectacles but are also bridges for cultural and intellectual exchange. By interweaving the delicacy of Eastern aesthetics with the advanced techniques of Western photography, she births a distinctive visual language, encapsulating profound cultural roots and innovative artistic expression.
Published By: Aize Perez
