Juxtaposed
Uncertainties
For this exhibition, we selected 20 themes of daily life, and each of us contributed one or a set of photographs in response to each theme, together with our photography journey albums. Through these juxtapositions, we aim to explore the trajectory of time and space as we travel across cultures, and to reflect on how transcultural experiences have influenced our artistic expressions in photography.
Biography
Leo Wang is a PhD researcher,individualphotographer and filmmaker currently studying film and creative writing at theUniversity of Birmingham. Having beenstudying audio-visual media for more than 7 years, photography has always been a majorartistic creation method for him. Hespecialises in documentary photography andlandscape photography. With a Chinese-British transcultural background, and a
research focus on migrant documentaries, heapproaches his work from a uniqueperspective.
Shanshan Wu is a filmmaker, photographer, and PhD researcher at the University ofLiverpool, UK. Her artistic practice includes photography, expertimental films, and videonumber of group exhibitions across China andthe UK. With a transcultural background inChina, Australia and the UK, she oftenexplores the themes of intimacy, memory, alienation and otherness in association withmigrant life. In the academic world, Shanshan'sresearch interests are digital media memories ineveryday life.
Timeline albums
Link to Album:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vqeJ7lt8OI-gNEMweJCgOMT1RjDAZthB/view?usp=drive_link
Museum
The river of time
Leo Wang. 2021. Liverpool, UK, Canon EOS 80D.
Liverpool was stripped of Unesco World Heritage status in 2021 due to the overdevelopment of its pier.
Cells
Shanshan Wu. 2022. London, UK. iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Shot at Grant Museum of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy.
Grassland
Long day
Leo Wang. 2024, Winchester, UK, Sony a7 III.
User: Please generate two brief lines of dialogue in Victorian English between friends, one question and one answer.
ChatGPT:
A: You look quite worn, my friend—has the day been unkind to you?
B: A little so, I confess, though it softens now that evening has come, and I have your company.
… After I told ChatGPT, I will attach the dialogue to this photo. It doesn’t like it, for real.
The last day of summer
Shanshan Wu. 2025. Chester, UK. iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Animal
Third-type contact
Leo Wang. 2019, Datong, China, Canon EOS 80D.
I want to play the soundtrack from Interstellar here. Ah, never mind, it doesn’t quite match the title.
Creatives
Shanshan Wu. 2018. Beijing, China. iPhone XS.
I was working in Beijing. I was feeling like a cockroach crawling on a pile of paper.
Skycraper
New divide
Leo Wang. 2021, Birmingham, UK, Canon EOS 80D.
Teenage memories.
View
Shanshan Wu. 2022. London, UK. iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Shot through the window of our flat.
Worker
River Cam
Leo Wang. 2024, Cambridge, UK, Sony a7 III.
Orangecoat
Shanshan Wu. 2025. Liverpool, UK. iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Bluecoat is an art gallery at the centre of Liverpool.
Public Transport
Junction
Leo Wang. 2025, Prague, Czech Republic, Canon EOS RP.
I cannot say whether Prague's trams bear any direct connection to the communist era, but their appearance evokes the widespread (or stereotypical) image I recall from childhood of public transport in the “Soviet Union” and “Eastern Europe”. This encapsulates my overall impression of Prague – numerous details evoke symbols of communism and authoritarianism from my personal experiences or media exposure, yet the city's prevailing atmosphere constantly reminds me that this society has long since broken free from communist rule.
This text was translated into English using software (DeepL). After much reflection, I find it rather difficult to describe such memories and impressions in English.
我不知道布拉格的Tram是否和共产主义时期有直接关系，但其外观让我想到童年印象中对于“苏联”、“东欧”公共交通的普遍（或刻板印象的）形象·。这是我对布拉格整体印象的缩影 – 很多细节唤起了我亲身经历或在媒体上看到的，关于共产主义与极权的象征，但整体的氛围又时刻提醒我这个社会已经脱离共产政权的控制。
这段文本的英文是用软件（DeepL）翻译的。我思考了很久，发现我很难用英文描述这样的记忆与印象。
I’d rather stand
Shanshan Wu. 2023. London, UK. iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Park
Alan Turing Memorial Park
Leo Wang. 2021, Manchester, UK, Canon EOS 80D.
Sunny days
Shanshan Wu. 2022. London, UK. iPhone 12 Pro Max.
It must feel really good lying in the sun and not worrying about visas staying in the UK.
Beach
Gulf of Heraklion
Leo Wang. 2025, Heraklion, Greece, Canon EOS RP.
Sometimes 16:9, or even full screen, won’t fit. Inspired by Keisuke Itagaki (板垣 恵介)’s manga.
Blood moon
Shanshan Wu. 2022. Nice, France. iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Church
Who else is worthy
Leo Wang. 2024, Barcelona, Spain, Sony a7 III.
This photo is dedicated to my Lord, Jesus. A colleague joked a lot about my Christian identity by constantly saying, “You should leave space for Jesus”, even though I told him I didn’t like it. Interpreting this experience in my faith by leaving a space for Jesus in this exhibition.
Proximity
Shanshan Wu. 2023. Helsinki, Finland. iPhone 12 Pro Max.
I grew up next to a similar church in Tianjin, China. I loved sitting in it and doing nothing, just watching people praying.
Street
UK under Stamer’s new Labour
Leo Wang. 2024, Windsor, UK, Sony a7 III.
Modernity
Shanshan Wu. 2023. London, UK. iPhone 12 Pro Max.
It tastes good, though, the restaurant in the photo. But it’s three times more expensive than in Japan.
Object
Untitled
Leo Wang. 2021, Manchester, UK, Canon EOS 80D.
Original artwork: Listen, Mandy Johnson, collected in Manchester Art Gallery.
Fortune and Luck
Shanshan Wu. 2020. Pingyao, China. iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The colour of red symbolises fortune and luck in Chinese culture.
Bar
Order & Disorder
Leo Wang. 2020, Kyoto, Japan, Canon EOS 80D.
I hate alcohol
Shanshan Wu. 2019. Beijing, China. iPhone XS.
Sunset
Singular Sunset
Leo Wang. 2025, Athens, Greece, Sony a7 III.
I’m a Star Wars nerd.
Home
Shanshan Wu. 2019. Beijing, China. iPhone XS.
Beijing has 8 million migrant workers, which is 37% of its population. I was one of them.
Woods
La Vida
Leo Wang. 2025, Stonehenge, UK, Sony a7 III.
Tree, Flower, Human.
The calm before the storm
Shanshan Wu. 2020. Beijing, China. iPhone XS.
Shot at Beijing Zoo. Nine days after I took this photograph, news reports emerged of the discovery of a novel coronavirus and evidence of human-to-human transmission. I dedicate this photograph to all those who have suffered due to COVID-19. We remember. We will not forget.
Shop
Lemon tree
Leo Wang. 2025, Winchester, UK, Sony a7 III.
Red Sea Newsagent
Shanshan Wu. 2024. Liverpool, UK. iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Field
Filed of Aviermore
Leo Wang. 2021, Aviermore, UK, Canon EOS 80D.
Good trip
Shanshan Wu. 2022. Eastbourne, UK. iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Sky
Echo of tide
Leo Wang. 2024, Paris, France, Sony a7 III.
Photographed at the garden of Château de Versailles.
Karasu 鴉
Shanshan Wu. 2013. Kyoto, Japan. Canon EOS 50D.
Shot at Shimogamo Jinja.
Snow
怪我の功名
Kega no koumyou
Leo Wang. 2020, Somewhere near Fuji Mountain, Japan,
Canon EOS 80D.
Kega no koumyou means a fortunate outcome that arises unexpectedly from a mistake or misfortune. It was planned that we would go to Fuji Mountain, but all the roads towards it were closed due to snow. The coach stopped at a highway service area to dodge the weather. But because I was bored, I took some photos with this Coke bottle, and this one has been one of my favourites for years. The ramen there is the best I had in my life.
No sunrise
Shanshan Wu. 2022. Inari, Finland. iPhone 12 Pro Max.
We were staying in this blue cabin within the Arctic Circle, where there was neither sunrise nor sunset during winter. It was really weird.
Signboard
0:21
Leo Wang. 2025, Glasgow, UK, Sony a7 III.
The Deysbrook
Shanshan Wu. 2023. Liverpool, UK. iPhone 12 Pro Max.
I guess I’ll never get used to the pub culture here. But why should I get used to it though? I don’t have to. I chose not to.
Bicycle
Next stop
Leo Wang. 2025, Prague, Czech Republic. Sony a7 III.
Childhood
Shanshan Wu. 2021. Beijing, China. iPhone 12 Pro Max.
When I was a child, I had a yellow bicycle that I rode to primary school every day. Then it was stolen.