Lin Zhipeng, known professionally as No.223, created the photographic series titled Grand Amour during a brief, intensive three-day residency at the Hotel Grand Amour in Paris in October 2018. Developed in collaboration with curator Anna Mistal and Andre Saraiva of Amour Hotels, the project presents an intimate portrayal of Asian youth within the vibrant, visually rich confines of the hotel.
Set against a backdrop of societal conservatism and government censorship in China, Grand Amour emerges as a candid reflection of young individuals embracing moments of freedom, love, and personal expression. Lin’s work resonates deeply with an urban generation navigating the dichotomies between societal expectations and personal desires, effectively capturing the nuances of a counterculture marked by openness toward sexuality and individual identity. Although photographed in Paris, the project’s thematic explorations remain inherently tied to the broader context of China's evolving social dynamics, implicitly challenging traditional norms and fostering symbolic resistance through its explicit portrayal of liberated youth.
Aesthetically, the series employs vivid color photography and Lin's signature penetrating flash technique, delivering spontaneous, diaristic images rich with sensuality and ambiguity. Framing intimate encounters between bodies and objects, each photograph integrates surreal components such as flowers, fruits, and live birds, building a dialogue between fantasy and realism. His approach, centered on spontaneity, relied on intuitive, collaborative interactions with Asian models recruited through social media, with the only condition being that they were over 18.
First acclaimed during its debut exhibition at Hotel Grand Amour, the project later expanded its reach through a successful photobook publication, further integrating Lin’s exploration of youth culture, sexuality, and personal freedom into wider dialogues on Chinese photography and cultural identity initiated by peers like Ren Hang.
