Dazed The New Issue Spring 2023
Chinese Horror Story
A valentine to film noir with a cast of captivating characters on China’s LGBTQ and drag performance scenes.
在最新一本英国《DAZED》里用恐怖故事的题材记录了我们中国的LGBTQ和皇后们。
A valentine to film noir with a cast of captivating characters on China's LGBTQ and drag performance scenes.
Editor-in-Chief I Kamara @ibkamara
Art Director Gareth Wrighton @gareth_wrighton
Editorial Director Kacion Mayers @kaciOn
Fashion Director Imruh Asha @imruh
Photography / Set Design: Leslie Zhang @lesliezhang1992
Model: Alibae @ali_thebaeb , An @badas3andro , Coke @itscoke , Harry Fang @harry_funnn , Kai Kai @shikaijie83 , Lyon @caomeillyon , Xiaoxiao Wang @xiaoaxiaoaxiaoo , Yihao @2000yihao
Styling: Austin Feng @austin_feng
Make-up: Jolin Wei @jolin.wzI (for An, Xiaoxiao Wang & Harry Fang)
Hair: Zhou Xueming @zhou_xue_ming (for An, Xiaoxiao Wang & Harry Fang)
Producers: Adam Chen @chinesesymbol , Gu Jiahui @sonneku
Nails: Erpo @erpo_liang
Photographic Assistants: Shen Jiabin @jbinshen , Wu You @wuyou0519 , Liao Zining @guangyurensan_ Styling Assistants: Tiffany Xi @tiffanyxi1030 , Leslie Bian @LeslieLeslieStylist
Production Assistants: Yuan Yanran @echo_yanran ,
Zhao Haoxuan @xiaoxuan4754
Set & Props Assistant: Yoga
Post-production: Li Huiwan
Chengdu’s underground scene unfolds as a fragile, persistent ecology of queer performance and DIY culture, shaped by clubs, closures and informal networks. Through YiHao’s trajectory, interviewed by curator Sara Sassanelli, it appears as a space where myth, memory and experimentation converge, producing temporary communities and practices that drift between exhaustion, care and reinvention.
Written by @sara.sassanelli
Photos by @2000yihao , Stills from “The Last Year of Darkness” by @benmullinkosson
2 years ago today (March 15) THE LAST YEAR OF DARKNESS by @benmullinkosson was released on @mubi which we’d consider as a triumph for such a “small indie documentary” - a film for “niche” market but found a perfect home in a strange time where traditional distributions have been falling apart. We made the documentary for 5 years and were extremely fortunate to get the support from some of the best production partners and labs and institutions. Today, Ben and I are shooting a commercial in Chengdu and the memories of everything made me want to do a small anniversary post for this very special film, one of my proudest films I produced yet. So I went back to @letterboxd where we got over 5,000 ratings and until today people have been watching and rewatching and leaving reviews. Today I will have to pick the favorites because they beat the same heartbeat as us💓
Last year, the key word for me was definitely “cancellation.”
Queer nightlife and performance art scenes in Shanghai were forced to shut down entirely under mounting pressure, and my life in China came to a sudden stop as well. For nearly four months, I barely felt alive.
The only blessing was that I still had a few close friends with whom I could share the stage. Performing with you was, in fact, a process of healing myself.
This year, beyond touring in other cities and countries, I also hope to build bridges through my label by inviting international artists to collaborate.
Those who love each other will eventually meet. ;）
