Pitch Black Heirloom

Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, Chinese artist Wei Weng creates fantastical photographic portraits and sculptural work inspired by Danish urban swim culture, natural elements and the people that engage with aquatic environments.

In Pitch Black Heirloom (漆黑家宝）the artist blurs the lines between reality and fiction while applying layers of meaning into the making of fairytale-inspired visual narratives: A Mermaid Mother and her Land-Bound Daughter.

The artist uses her own household waste materials to create sculptures that later becomes wearable accessories for collaborators during photo shoot. Local swimmers are invited into Wei's studio, picking out objects made by fusing craft traditions such as urushi lacquer and eggshell inlay, while contemplating their own fictional character building.

Using in-camera double exposure the artist adds another dimension to the process of collaborative portraiture, weighing in found elements from surrounding environment.