Zerben Wu | Photographer

Photographer Zerben Wu describes himself as an emotion collector and a visual image catcher. Since 2017, his work has been characterized by a distinctly urban aesthetic of muted colors, blurring the distinction between real life and disoriented abstract concepts. When speaking about his work, he repeatedly refers to the fragmentary nature of human perception, a term which his art often reflects in visual metaphor. 

| Style and Influence

As comfortable in the discipline of painting as he is in photography, Zerben explains his process as, “always looking for the familiar and unfamiliar perception of personal consciousness”. He has also recently began using fusions of digital artifacts that tend to embody elements similar to painted brush strokes, so it’s no surprise that he cites the captivating painter David Hockney as an influential role model. With his photographic interests spanning over the course of his life thus far, Zerben feels a close connection to his art form, expressing to us that “the ‘emotion’ emitted [in each frame] is charming, and it is a pleasure to capture it”. 

You can enjoy more of Zerben Wu's unique approach on his Instagram @zerben_wu!

Art Description

'The crisis of identity'

"When our exposure is in public view, it becomes the data captured by the monitoring probe. The moving images and data in the lens let us reflect on our own identity crisis."

Written By

Tristan Dominguez

Tristan Dominguez is an innately curious autodidact with a focus on the humanities. Over two decades he’s written for a variety of passion projects, work characterized by diligent research and conscientious use of language. You can read some of his essays here: https://soundmind.substack.com/

Edited By | Katherine Berg | @kurleykath

Katherine is an artist, vegan activist, and the founder and curator of Creating Freely Magazine. She’s passionate about living on her own terms and maximizing her potential.