In 2006, Wang Jun began to collect contemporary art. When asked about the motivations for his collecting, Wang Jun says frankly, ‘It’s actually very simple, I just like it. Because I like it, I am obsessed with it, and because I am obsessed with it, I love to study and think about it.’ In April 2017, Wang Jun, a photographer himself, held a solo exhibition, Things on the Road: Wang Jun Photography Exhibition at UCCA Beijing, transforming his travels into a rich and delicate visual record. At the end of 2017, he founded Light Society, a photography institution dedicated to the exhibition, education, collection and research of photography. Within a year, Light Society was presenting solo exhibitions of major artists such as Nobuyoshi Araki, Daido Moriyama, Antoine D’Agata, and Marina Abramović.
Here we speak to Wang Jun about why he collects and the photographs that are the most important to him.
The First Photograph in Wang Jun’s Collection by an unknown artist. Courtesy of Wang Jun
Why do you collect, or in your terms, ‘consume art’?
It’s very simple, I just like it. Because I like it, I became obsessed with it; because I’m obsessed with it, I love studying and thinking about it. For me, collecting a single piece is to obtain someone else’s expression of the world. When you collect for a long time, collecting itself becomes your own expression of the world. Taking photos is obviously a more direct means of expression.
What is the first photograph you acquired in your collection?
It was around 1999. I went to the United States and visited Los Angeles, New York and Chicago where I toured many bookstores and second-hand shops. It was in a very small gallery that I saw an old silver salt print, a reprint from a repaired negative film. It was taken by an unknown artist in 1905 and its theme was a girl playing poker. The girl is lying in bed, holding a puppy in her arms and playing cards as if to foretell her fate. The photograph evoked a nostalgic feeling within me, reminding me of my youth. This girl seems lonely, but I don’t think she feels lonely.
What are the principles or standards you adopt when collecting artworks?
It is a very personal thing. The Chinese, in particular, have a concept of collecting things that they can ‘appreciate and play with their hands,’ which means the pleasure of collecting is private and unspeakable, so the most important principle or standard for me when I collect art is to make myself happy.
'...the pleasure of collecting is private and unspeakable, so the most important principle or standard for me when I collect art is to make myself happy.'
PHOTOFAIRS Hong Kong will take place 26-30 March 2025 (VIP Preview March 26) at the Central Harbourfront.
