Prada Qixi Festival Campaign: In the Lenses of Photographer Michelle Du Xuan for HD Fashion

The photographer and style icon, Michelle Du Xuan was born in the South of China but started her professional path in Paris, the city of her choice, where she came to study and later discovered a passion for photography. She has also a deep love for French cinema, that’s why she decided to pick up a French artistic first name like her heroine in her favourite Leos Carax’s film “Les Amants du Pont Neuf” (“The Lovers on the Bridge”, 1991). Du Xuan’s sensual yet endlessly elegant images always combine the codes of French culture and those of Chinese culture. Michelle shares with HD Fashion the insights behind her latest Prada campaign released in time for the Qixi Festival or Chinese traditional Valentine’s Day, why she loves Paris and talks about her plans for summer in Shanghai.  

Tell us more about your Prada Qixi Festival Campaign shoot.  

The inspiration behind the shoot is the love for travelling through time and space. Two individual souls, incarnated by a famous Chinese actor called Li Xian and a top model Xie Xinare, are wandering in this ancient town and are finally stepping into each other’s sight in the most unpredictable ways. Like in Richard Linklater’s film “Before Sunset” (2004) starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, the protagonists cross paths and a beautiful story begins.

What has been the biggest challenge while working on this project?

The ancient villages at Chengkan in Huizhou that we chose as our location are tourist spots, and the date of the shoot was also a traditional festival in China, so we had to coordinate everything based on the tourist flow. The hot and humid weather was quite challenging, as well.

What is your first Prada memory?

My first professional encounter with Prada was to shoot a special project called “Prada Journal” with the supermodel Du Juan in Shanghai. I captured her day as a Prada girl. It was super chill, and I enjoyed the creation process a lot.

Why is the Qixi Festival so special? And in which ways is it different from Saint Valentine’s Day?

I would say we didn’t celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day until the modern days. Like Chinese New Year, we have our own Valentine’s Day to celebrate love and romance. It always falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month on the Chinese calendar. The festival is derived from Chinese mythology: people celebrate the romantic legend of two lovers, Zhinü and Niulang, who were the weaver girl and the cowherd, respectively. The tale has been celebrated in the Qixi Festival since the Han dynasty so it has a special meaning and a traditional value.

Why did you choose to become a photographer? And what challenges did you face at the beginning of your professional journey?

I have always been interested in visual stimulations. It triggers imagination, memories and emotions. I chose photography and moving images as my media of expression. The challenge I faced was to turn a passion into a profession as it's actually two completely different things.

They say that fashion photography is a men’s world, which is hard to access for outsiders and minorities. What would you recommend for young aspiring talents?  

I don’t think that’s the case anymore. I see more and more talented women photographers being recognised and seen in this industry. And I’m sure there will be more. If there is one advice I would give, I think it would be to find your own voice, your own visual language and develop it, dig into it and make it your own thing.

When and why did you move to Paris? And what do you love most about it?

I came to the City of Lights for my studies. I chose Paris particularly because of my passion for French cinema and art. Photography didn’t come as a career option until later. What I love about the city is the ease of it. People soak themselves in art and it becomes part of their everyday life. It’s so natural and liberal like air. That’s something that makes me fall in love with this city over and over again.

What do you miss the most about China when you are in Paris?

I miss Chinese food the most, to be honest. Food is my nostalgia. It brings out all the senses and memories.

What are your plans for the rest of the summer?

I arrived in Shanghai several days ago as it’s overcrowded in Europe during the summer holidays. I will focus on some personal projects here and travel a bit. Summer is always too short!

Courtesy: Prada

Text: Lidia Ageeva