Before We Explain the World

Photography by Lu Heng

2Where We Look From

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

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

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

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

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  1. A rectangular object is suspended inside a large circular frame against a clear blue sky.
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    A hanging object inside a circle

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  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

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

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Lu Heng on describing rather than advocating