Current Project
Song Chao | Since 2020
Since 2001, my photographic work has focused on the lives of coal miners and mining communities, resulting in a series of documentary projects rooted in my early years working in the mines of Shandong. These works reflect a deep concern for social realities and lived experiences.
Over time, my attention shifted toward how information shapes perception and understanding. In an era dominated by digital media and algorithm-driven communication, the concept of “reality” has become increasingly fragmented and elusive. In 2020, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, I began to critically reflect on the relationship between information dissemination and public cognition. This led to the creation of Images in the Post-Truth Era, a series that merges photography, text, and material experimentation to explore how information constructs identity and social structure. This marked a transition in my practice—from documenting physical realities to investigating cognitive and informational systems.
Images in the Post-Truth Era
: An Exploration of Information and Cognition
“Images in the Post-Truth Era” uniquely examines the profound impact of information overload in the digital age on individuals and society. Each portrait of the subjects is printed on a thick pulpboard made from materials such as used books and newspapers, QR code links, or other text-based media, combined with pulp and glue. These textual elements are critical in shaping the subjects' thoughts and cognition. The physical weight of the material symbolizes the gravity of information while reminding us of its tangible presence. These texts serve as carriers of information and represent the foundation and soil from which personal understanding and identity emerge. Each portrait is tailored to the individual, using personalized visual language to illustrate how information shapes cognition and identity on a personal level.
By combining textual and photographic languages, the work transcends the traditional boundaries of photography. This fusion redefines the image as a medium of visual expression and information recording, transforming it into an innovative tool for exploring the interaction between individual cognition and the information ecosystem. Through multilayered storytelling, the series underscores the intrinsic connection between information and thought.
The series focuses on how the surge of information reshapes contemporary reality. In an era where modern technology accelerates the flow of data, individuals face not an expansion of knowledge but an unprecedented "storm of information." This storm, manifesting as information overload, disrupts cognitive ecosystems, causing individuals to lose clarity and deepening societal divides. The overwhelming torrent of information not only burdens cognition but also fosters the creation of "information cocoons," where people selectively consume content that aligns with their preferences, reinforcing preexisting beliefs and amplifying social fragmentation.
At a deeper level, these dynamics are rooted in conflicts between civilizations and values, which give rise to power struggles. The series reveals the hidden mechanisms beneath the surface of information flows: political power and capital use technology to reshape the dissemination of information. Through algorithmic manipulation and narrative intervention, these forces subtly influence public perception. Lies become more insidious, making the pursuit of truth increasingly elusive. This manipulation of information and covert competition constitutes the underlying causes of social division and trust erosion, further accelerating the disintegration of global consensus.
“Images in the Post-Truth Era” examines the psychological effects of information on individuals and reflect on its impact on social structures. In the face of rampant information overload, the loss of cognitive clarity and the collapse of social trust demand urgent attention. By exposing the deeper mechanisms of information manipulation, the series invites viewers to reconsider the systemic issues in information dissemination and to explore ways to achieve a more transparent, accountable, and sustainable future.
This creative approach goes beyond merely presenting phenomena, offering viewers a point of entry for deeper discussion. The work is both a critique and reflection on the current information environment, opening a dialogue about the future possibilities of the information age.
How To Do
Images in the Post-Truth Era combines portrait photography with recycled text materials, which are pulped, sun-dried, and shaped into image-bearing boards. Each piece is framed in rust-prone iron, symbolizing the weight of information and the gradual fading of truth over time.
Customization
If you appreciate this distinctive artistic style and would like to commission a personalized portrait of your own, feel free to contact the artist at: songchaophoto@gmail.com to learn more.