Trained at the École des Gobelins in Paris, the French photographer Pascale Arnaud had the opportunity to travel during fifteen days to China. On this occasion, the photography department of the renowned China Academy of Arts in Hangzhou invited her and her fellow students. This workshop brought about a collaborative work between Arnaud, Clara Belleville (her assistant), Chen Xiaotong (the model), and Li Yi (a local fashion student). Shot alongside the iconic West Lake, the series “Xiaotong” appears at the junction of fashion and portrait photography.
“When I met Xiaotong, the cultural gap between us fascinated me,” said Arnaud. “Our exchanges were brief and quick. The language barrier forced us to adopt a precise gesture. I was trying to read her face since I wasn’t able to understand her voice. Naturally the lake had its importance and its differing state echoed Xiaotong’s ones.”
