Featured New Artist: Ariana Lindquist

Ariana Lindquist is an editorial photographer whose style blends art, anthropology and photojournalism. She has been living and working in China for three years and most of her photographs are produced while on reporting trips. She often works in tandem with a correspondent and enjoys collaborating with the writer while on assignment. Visually, she responds strongly to color and light. This can be a challenge in China where the smog and haze can be overwhelming, however there are times when air pollution can be interesting, but these are often rare and elusive moments.

Ariana has an undergraduate degree in Sociocultural Anthropology (with an emphasis on visual anthropology) from the University of Minnesota, where she got her start in photography.  She later received her Master’s in Visual Communication at Ohio University

“I got into photography while in college at the University of Minnesota. I enrolled in art photography classes and was working as a lab technician at the school of photojournalism. While at the j-school I became friends with the photographers working for my college newspaper, The Minnesota Daily. Thinking their job looked pretty cool and liking the idea of getting paid to photograph, I applied for a job at the paper. Much to my surprise I got it. That was the beginning of my career in photography. Since then I have worked outside the field of photography, but have never experienced the same intense satisfaction with any other job.”

Her images honestly portray the individual within their environment, and provide insight into how the person is defined by the context in which they live. These moments, when she has attuned to the perspective presented to her and successfully communicates that to the viewer, epitomize the “intense satisfaction” she derives from photography.

“I continue to be fascinated by China. The country is a vast reservoir of history, ethnic diversity, culture, extreme wealth and dire poverty. The past half-century alone is a boggling saga of political upheaval, extreme isolation and hyper-modernization. This history is a powerful force that shapes present-day societal issues in Mainland China: the struggle for a better life, the emphasis on social stability, and the impotence of the downtrodden permanently beyond the reach of prosperity. With this historical perspective in mind, I have endeavored to honestly document the lives of ordinary Chinese citizens and how they function within their current social, political and economic landscape.”

In the coming months Ariana will be working in western China, on the fringes of the nation and on the border of economic development and traditional communities. There are many fascinating topics to investigate here, where the culture blends seamlessly with neighboring countries and the power of Beijing wanes. Yet, it is still China.

Web:  www.arianalindquist.com - www.auroraphotos.com Ariana recently signed with Aurora Photos.

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