Before We Explain the World

Photography by Lu Heng

2The Position of Looking

When Things Become Shapes

Story 12 of 51 · 7 photographs

Water, fibres and unfocused lights first appear as texture and colour. Hanging objects and indoor lamps then restore more familiar outlines. For a moment, there is something to see before there is something to name.

  1. Waves in diagonal lines; Fine parallel ridges run diagonally across a pale textured surface.
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    Waves in diagonal lines

  2. Fine blue strands spread from a pale centre into darkness.
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    Blue filaments

  1. Out-of-focus coloured lights; Blue, red, orange and white circles of light float against a dark background.
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    Out-of-focus coloured lights

  2. Two white smoke trails curve above a building and palm fronds.
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    Arcs across the sky

  1. A hanging object inside a circle; A small rectangular light hangs inside a large metal circle against a clear blue sky.
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    A hanging object inside a circle

  2. A circular metal chandelier hangs in darkness, its fine framework visible in black and white.
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    A chandelier in the dark

  1. Several curved, wood-grained lampshades glow warmly and overlap against a dark background.
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    Curved lampshades

Lu Heng on describing rather than advocating