Chai Dongxin: Rock Documentarian

Chai Dongxin (柴东新) only takes photos of things that relate to rock. All the images hanging on the walls of Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar and Gulou 121 were captured by his camera. In June, when he held a solo exhibition at 798, nearly all the influential figures in the current rock scene showed up on opening night. It’s hard to imagine that Chai first picked up a camera only six years ago.

How did you get a solo exhibition?
A British magazine approached me. I was actually under a lot of pressure. Actually, we should not see it as a photo exhibition. It’s more like a document of a period of time. I think photos covering five to six years is enough to tell the story of an adolescent period.

What makes you stand out from other photographers?
I can’t compete with the professional photographers on technique, but I have the feeling for it. You can only be good at something when you really love it. I love rock in my heart and I’ve known my subjects for a long time. The musician on stage might have struggled for years in Shucun and then Songzhuang. His band probably split up. After some time, the musician gathers his ex-bandmates to talk about whether they should give it one more shot – if not, it’s time for him to start doing something else with his life. The band decides to try a fresh start. And then there’s that one moment on stage when the musician finds himself again. If the photographer can read the story behind the musician, the rest should be simple.

Describe a normal day when you’re not out taking photos.
I work at an advertisement company as the creative director. I spend a lot of time working there, then polishing photos from home. Weibo also takes a lot of time. I normally go to bed after two.

Do your colleagues know about your sideline in rock photography?
Yes. Some of them found out from my Douban or Weibo updates.

Click here to see the November issue of the Beijinger in full.