Red illuminates - Jialin Long's Portfolio

Red illuminates explores the concept of culture in socialist countries and how loyalty to the state is cultivated. The catalyst for the project was found in a residential area of Beijing where Special Criminal Syndicate Combat propaganda posters displayed, on average, every 40 meters. These are presented alongside large-format portraits of so-called young pioneers emulating Mao Zedong’s portrait in Tiananmen Square. A white orchid blooming under artificial grow lights, a still from a video work, is listening to socialist propaganda from CCTV (China’s official news channel) continuously for 30 days. I ask the question, “could this conditioning eventually turn a white orchid red?”.

A publication of this work was produced as a TLP Edition in 2020. A copy of this limited edition publication can be purchased here.