Invisible Interview: Li Wei

Li Wei, was born in Inner Mongolia, but now works as a freelance documentary photographer in Beijing. His work has been featured in numerous exhibitions in China and internationally.

“The Earth” and his photographs of post-quake Wen Chuan, both captured on 6×7 photographs, are wonderful dream-like dedications from a son to his beloved motherland. In this Invisible Interview, Li Wei tells us more about himself, his photography and his inspiration.

Invisible Photographer Asia: Can you tell us about yourself and how you got into photography?

Li Wei: I was born in 1967 in Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia, and later studied at the Communication University of China. I now work and live in Beijing. My passion for photography spawned during my university days, and after working for a few years, I resigned and became a freelance photographer.

What inspires your photography and the subjects you choose to photograph?

I am now working on a project “The Earth”, and it’s about my country. My love for my hometown in Inner Mongolia inspired me and I started this project in 2008.

Can you tell us more about the way you work – your technique or philosophy perhaps?

I like to shoot in a quiet and paced method, and perhaps this reflects an eastern philosophy applied to photography.

Your photographs of post-earthquake Wen Chuan are haunting and powerful. Tell us more.

Immediately after the earthquake in 2008, I took my camera along with some black and white film and rushed to Sichuan. Because it was personal and not for a magazine, I could shoot according to my own ideas and emotions more freely. I photographed in detail for two weeks the affected people and the damage the earthquake caused to their living environment and conditions.

What was it like to go back and photograph Inner Mongolia fter living in Beijing?

After years of living in a big city like Beijing, photographing Inner Mongolia was a fresh and passionate affair.

What’s your personal favourite of the photographs you’ve taken, and why is it special to you?

I like the first photograph “Shepherd sculpture” in my project ‘The Earth’. That picture to me is beautiful, and more so with age.