Maleonn's mobile photo studio - in pictures Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via Email Shanghai-based artist Maleonn has travelled around 25 Chinese provinces, photographing 200,000 people in a mobile photo studio Tue 26 Mar 2013 12.16 EDT First published on Tue 26 Mar 2013 12.16 EDT Shanghai-based artist Maleonn (aka Ma Liang) has travelled around 25 Chinese provinces, photographing 200,000 people in a mobile photo studio and posting the images on his Weibo account Photograph: Maleonn Share on Facebook Share on Twitter It took seven months to prepare for the project including painting the sets and backgrounds, preparing costumes, producing the props, purchasing a truck and arranging locations Photograph: Maleonn Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Over 10 months, in a battered truck and a minivan, he visited 35 cities in China, taking 1,600 portraits of people in fancy/fantasy dress Photograph: Maleonn Share on Facebook Share on Twitter He established a set of guidelines, such as a minimum of eight people per city who would provide him and his team with food, somewhere to stay and a space to work Photograph: Maleonn Share on Facebook Share on Twitter The subjects dressed either in clothes from Maleonn’s van or brought their own outfits Photograph: Maleonn Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Subjects ranged from tank drivers and police officers to Tang dynasty scholars Photograph: Maleonn Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Maleonn launched the project after losing his studio in Shanghai’s Weihai Road 696 arts community, following a government eviction of artists, and getting divorced Photograph: Maleonn Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Having completed the huge project in China, Maleonn suggested he might next be taking the roadshow to the UK. 'I have friends in Swansea,' he said Photograph: Maleonn Share on Facebook Share on Twitter People from all walks of life turned up to be photographed Photograph: Maleonn Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Maleonn collects old photographs, papers including posters, certificates, letters, receipts and notebooks Photograph: Maleonn Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Maleonn's studio mobile (75) Photograph: Maleonn Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Maleonn's studio mobile (69) Photograph: Maleonn Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Maleonn's studio mobile (39) Photograph: Maleonn Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Maleonn's studio mobile (18) Photograph: Maleonn Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Topics China Photography