Chinese photographer Ren Hang has died aged 29

Renowned and controversial Chinese photographer Ren Hang has died aged 29. He was born in 1987 in Changchun, China, and resided in Beijing.

The news has yet to be confirmed officially but many of Ren’s collaborators and friends have commented, including publisher Pierre Bessard who said: “My friend Ren Hang left us this morning in Berlin, I am sad and shocked.”

Belgian publication De Morgen has reported that he committed suicide, citing “entourage sources”. Dutch newspaper Het Parool quoted Foam director Marloes Krijnen as saying “we are in shock”. His work is currently subject of a solo show at the Amsterdam gallery.

Known for his explicit and sexual photographs, his work aimed to fight censorship, and as a result his photos have repeatedly been defaced or removed from exhibitions, and Ren was arrested on multiple occasions in China. Despite this, he achieved worldwide acclaim at a relatively young age.

We recently wrote about Same Paper’s magazine Food Issue featuring previously unpublished work by Ren, showcasing his provocative approach.